How to identify Hoverflies for Beginners

So, You've Spotted Your First Hoverflies – What's Next?

If you read my previous article, How to Start Watching Hoverflies Today – No Equipment Needed, then brilliant, welcome back. If not, and you're wondering how to get started, you might want to read this article first (click here).

Last time, we looked at some of the key features that help distinguish hoverflies from other insects in the field. The next step is learning how to get a closer look at them so you can begin to marvel at these fascinating flies. Hoverflies are remarkable creatures: pollinators, decomposers, and natural pest controllers all wrapped up in one little insect.

Once you've spotted a hoverfly, there are three main ways to get a closer look.

1. Observe it from a distance with binoculars.

2. Take photographs on your smartphone.

3. Capture it briefly for closer inspection with pots.

Each approach has its advantages, and which one you choose will depend on your confidence, the equipment you have available, and the species you're trying to identify.

Let's take a look at each method in turn.

Looking From Afar.

When I head out on one of my hoverfly-spotting adventures, I always carry a pair of binoculars. Not for birdwatching, although they come in handy for that too, but for hoverflies.

Hoverflies are remarkably aware of movement around them. Their large compound eyes provide excellent vision, and they also possess three simple eyes, known as ocelli, arranged in a small triangle on the top of the head. These help them detect changes in light intensity and maintain orientation during flight.

This sensitivity is one reason hoverflies can seem so difficult to approach. Move too quickly, make a sudden movement, or cast a shadow over them, and they're often gone in an instant.

Rather than walking straight into a patch of flowers, I usually stand back and watch through my binoculars first. This allows me to observe behaviour and pick out important features without disturbing the insect.

You can learn a surprising amount this way. Is the hoverfly basking in the sun? Feeding on nectar? Defending a territory? Different species often have distinct habits, and behaviour can provide useful clues to their identity.

If I spot something particularly interesting, I'll then begin a slow and careful approach.

With a little experience, it's often possible to identify some species simply by studying their shape, size, markings, and behaviour from a distance, leaving the hoverfly to get on with feeding, basking, or patrolling its territory completely undisturbed.

How to Start Hoverfly Spotting

How to Start Watching Hoverflies Today – no equipment needed.

Before I discovered hoverflies, I thought flies were just that - flies. They were the insects that buzzed around gardens, landed on flowers or, worse still, decaying matter, and in the case of houseflies were generally best avoided. Then one day I paid closer attention to one of the many yellow-and-black-banded hoverflies. At first glance it looked like a wasp, yet it had no sting. Its markings were striking, almost like a carefully designed football kit, and the longer I looked, the more fascinated I became.

Great Pied Plumehorn (Volucella pellucens)

Discover the hoverfly with love spots, not afraid of a wasp and can be hidden in plain sight.

Great Pied Plumehorn (Volucella pellucens) 

Wing Length 10-15.5mm. Body size 13-17mm

Flight. May-Sep

Species to spot in Jul-Aug

A large, predominantly black hoverfly, distinguished by a broad ivory band across the abdomen and striking black-and-amber markings on the wings. It is commonly referred to as the Pellucid Hoverfly, with pellucid deriving from the Latin per (“through”) and lucere (“to shine”), meaning transparent or clear. However, as transparent wings are a feature shared by many hoverflies, the name has always felt somewhat unremarkable.

One of this species’ more distinctive characteristics is its feathery antennae, for this reason, I have begun referring to it as the Pied Plumehorn. The term pied—an adjective describing black-and-white colouration—follows the naming convention used for familiar British birds such as the Pied Wagtail and Pied Flycatcher. The name has since been adopted in several recent publications, including Guide to Flies of Britain & Ireland (2026) and Hoverflies of Britain and NW Europe (2023) both of which seek to promote the wider use of hoverfly English common names.

I have since added the prefix Great to reflect its size relative to other hoverflies that could also be considered pied, such as White – Clubbed Glasswing (Scaeva pyrastri). While these species share similar contrasting colouration, none possesses the distinctive plume-like antennae that make the Great Pied Plumehorn such a fitting and hopefully memorable name.

Hoverflies at the Commonwealth Games

Now for something completely different.....

We often anthropomorphise the creatures we encounter, giving them names and personalities. It allows us, as humans, to feel more connected to wildlife. As a child, I would often be glued to the TV watching Johnny Morris on Animal Magic. His voiceovers regularly made me laugh out loud.

Well, this week’s offering isn’t from a zoo, nor is it a voiceover about the strange behaviours of its inhabitants. Instead, it’s a bit of fun.

For the next 11 days, the Commonwealth Games will be on our screens, showcasing a wide range of sporting events we rarely get to see nowadays. So, join me as I jump, swim, and run into a bit of fantasy—exploring which events our hoverflies, these little superhero pollinators, might take part in.

While hoverflies (Syrphidae) are not Olympic athletes, their specialised and agile flight—including hovering, backward flight, and rapid darting—makes them uniquely suited to mimic the mechanics of certain Commonwealth disciplines.

This is all a bit of fun, but also a great way for me to highlight the traits of some of our most common hoverflies and how they might earn their place on the team.

You may well have your own suggestions—and that’s absolutely fine. Everyone has good reasons for their team selections, and it’s easy to argue that the best hoverflies were left at home, especially when results don’t go our way. But I’ve done my best!

Athletics

Hoverfly Spotter Jul26 Sightings – part 1

Hoverflies, Hoverflies, and a few Moths – July 26

We are now past the longest day of the year and the days are getting shorter and the nights longer. Yet, as I sit down to write this article, we seem to be in the grip of another heatwave—the second, or perhaps the third of the summer. I've honestly lost count.

Many of you have been out spotting hoverflies and sharing your sightings, which is wonderful to see. I hope my article, notes and ‘Hoverflies on the Wing’ collations are helping you discover more of these fabulous flies. I know I’ve certainly been seeing a wider variety of species this year, although I can’t help wondering how the recent spells of hot weather have been affecting them.

Hoverflies are often known as “sun flies” because they become active when the sun shines. However, they are surprisingly sensitive to temperature and, like Goldilocks, prefer conditions that are ‘just right’. When temperatures fall below around 8°C, many species enter a state of torpor and become inactive. At the other extreme, when temperatures climb above 25°C, hoverflies often retreat into shade or sheltered spots to avoid overheating.

In many ways, I’ve behaved much like the hoverflies during this latest heatwave, seeking refuge from the hottest part of the day whenever possible. Despite the high temperatures, I’ve still managed to get out with the Yorkshire Naturalists’ Union, lead a session for the Barnsley Naturalist Association, and even fit in a little moth trapping in my garden.

Ecosystem – Nature Themed Board Game

Ecosystem - the card game

Designed by: Matt Simpson

Illustrated by: Lindsay Falsone and Martyna Szpil

Published by: Genius Games (2019)

Players: 1–6

Ages: 8+

Playing Time: 10–20 minutes

I have been a board game player ever since I was young. I recall fondly playing cards with my grandma and learning all the different variations of card games. Later I learned how to play draughts and chess with dad, not that I was any good at them. Then there were the family holidays on the east coast where on a rainy day we would play monopoly, dominos and other such traditional games. But it was at the start of lockdown when I was looking for other things that me and my beloved could do to get us through the crisis, that we discovered nature themed board games. Now I have a small collection filling a couple of shelves of my bookcase.

Ecosystem is a card-drafting and tableau-building game in which players create a balanced natural environment by strategically placing cards representing animals, plants, and habitats. It is light, quick to play, and ideal for families and casual gamers.

Does it teach anything about biodiversity or ecosystems?

Humming Flowerfly (Syrphus ribesii)

Discover the hoverfly that delivers the news & sings.

Humming Flowerfly (Syrphus ribesii) 

Wing Length 7.25-11.5mm. Body size 9-13mm

Flight. Apr-Nov

Species to spot in June July

I’m a little late with June’s species of the month—unusual for me—but I’ve recently been “whispered” some good news… by a hoverfly no less, more on that in a moment.

Have you ever walked along a path or paused near a sunlit glade and noticed flies hovering at about head height? Darting, stopping, then settling briefly on a leaf before lifting off again? Chances are it might be this species of hoverfly.

Hoverfly Spotter Jun26 Sightings – part 2

Magical Hotspots – Not Just Hot Weather!

Three counties, three magical hotspots for flowers, butterflies, bees, dragonflies and hoverflies. What did I spot, and why are these places so special?

Many of my posts explore the idea of “hotspots” — places I visit to sit and listen to a natural soundscape, spend time watching nature, or a wander in search of sightings. Sometimes it’s a garden, or a brownfield site, or somewhere a bit more well-known, but wherever it is, you will often find me poking my pots and net into colourful borders in the hope of spotting pollinators going about their work among the blooms.

As a natural historian with a particular interest in hoverflies, I’ve come to realise that a hotspot can exist in many forms and habitats. It doesn’t have to be rare or remote — it can be anywhere nature is thriving.

So, I’d like to share three special places from my recent outings, and what makes them so rewarding to visit.

Hoverfly Spotter Jun26 Sightings – part 1

Rievaulx Abbey, Ashberry Nature Reserve & Old Byland

Tales from a trip to a wet meadow to find new hoverflies, wildlife on a walk to an old church in Old Byland & critters found along a woodland ride. 

Join me as I explore the rich tapestry of wildlife in and around an Abbey in the North Yorkshire Moors. 

Last week, I headed to the North Yorkshire Moors for a cottage getaway. My partner and I stayed at Ashberry Cottage, a small farm just across the field from Rievaulx Abbey. We’d visited before, but much later in the season, so this time we wanted to experience it in spring rather than autumn—to see if it offered something different. And it certainly did.

What made it even more special was being completely off-grid: no internet, no phone signal - just the two of us and nature.

Armed with a hand lens, a sweep net, and plenty of identification guides, we set out to explore the area, never straying more than a mile or two from the doorstep. The weather played a part in our plans, with heavy showers keeping us close in case the rain set in. Hoverflies tend to favour sunny intervals - not too hot, not too cold - which is why they’re sometimes known as “sun-flies.” But this trip wasn’t just about hoverflies. I was keen to broaden my focus to include flowers, bees, moths, bats, and especially other flies, inspired by a recently purchased field guide (review here).

Orange-tip Butterfly – Clementine.

Orange-tip Butterfly Clementine - the second part of this amazing story.

A visit from a female Orange-tip butterfly to the garden in April presented an opportunity too good to miss — to follow the progress of an egg she laid, its hatching into a tiny orange caterpillar, and watching it grow throughout May and into June.

Hi, I’m Mark. I’ve been studying hoverflies for over 10 years, frequently recording and writing about them in this publication. However, I’m also passionate about all aspects of nature and fascinated by all the joy it can bring. So, when the opportunity arose to sit and observe wildlife in my own garden it’s time to relax and simply enjoy the moment.

Clementine was born on the 8th of May — a minute orange caterpillar, no larger than a pencil nib and as fine as a strand of hair. So tiny was she that a hand lens was needed to see her at all. She had hatched from a speck of an orange egg, had I not seen her mother lay it, I might easily have overlooked it.

Watching her grow and develop has been such a privilege - a spectacle to behold, bringing me so much pleasure over the past month.

If you’re new to my publication, or haven’t read my previous article, ‘Nature’s Joy – Orange-tip Butterfly Visit’, then please click here…

Hoverfly Genera Volume 2

Acrostic hoverfly postcards

Each slide explores a different genus: The genus name is split such that each letter forms a sentence, highlighting unique features of these incredible syrphids within each group, posted alongside artwork and habitat preferences.

All the photographs and artwork featured are my own, making this a truly personal project.

Just added Neoascia (fen-flies), 30th May 2026.

For more Acrostic postcards click on the links below:

Scaeva,Syrphus,Volucella,Helophilus and Episyrphus.

Visit often to explore the captivating world of hoverflies. Take a closer look at the diversity across different genera, and consider how their clever adaptations aid survival—particularly in avoiding predators and ensuring their genes continue into the next generation.

Neoascia

Hoverfly Spotter May 26 Sightings – part 2

Freiston, Frampton & Fen-Flies

Last weekend marked a significant birthday for my better half, celebrated with a visit to Boston and the surrounding fenland—now long since drained. Historically, this landscape was very different, so our trip became something of a whistle-stop tour, exploring villages of personal significance where her family once lived.

As my partner shares my love of wildlife, you’ll be pleased to hear this isn’t an article about family history, but rather a reflection on some of the natural history we encountered along the way, including visits to Freiston Shore and Frampton Marsh.

Hoverfly Spotter May 26 Sightings – part 1

Bears, Green Tigers, & Wolfs Milk. 

I cannot believe we’ve reached May already. Before long, spring will have given way to summer. While it hasn’t been the best week for hoverflies, with temperatures dipping a little, it has offered me the chance to explore and appreciate other fauna and flora in my local area.

One for the nature table - developing pinecones.

The week began with a visit to Wentworth Woodhouse, where an impressive hoverfly was spotted—though the day was somewhat dampened by the loss of some equipment. A walk along the Trans Pennine Trail brought a welcome highlight, with the sighting of one of the most colourful hoverflies found in the UK. The weekend then saw visits to Dearne Valley Country Park with the Barnsley Naturalists and Howell Wood with the British Naturalists, where, alongside friends, we encountered some amazing species to spotlight.

Nature’s Joy – Orange-tip Butterfly Visit.

A visit by an Orange-tip butterfly to the garden, what happens next is surely one of nature’s joys.

One of the joys of spring is seeing the Orange-tip butterfly (Anthocharis cardamines). The males with their flash of orange from which it gets its name, are often seen fluttering along woodland rides, passing by with purpose in mind.

The females in comparison bear no Orange-tip, but grey tips to her wings. Yet when she settles reveals a mottled green underwing that looks like decorative stained-glass windows in a church, a pattern unique to that butterfly. The males also have this mottling but its the orange flashes that first draw attention. These butterflies bring a smile to my face and are always welcome in my garden. 

The story begins one sunny afternoon in the garden a couple of weeks ago, when I was sitting reading a substack article and a female Orange-tip came to visit. It landed on a plant called Jack by the Hedge, also known by the name Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolate). This year it’s growing in profusion down the right-hand side of the garden as I look-out from the kitchen window. It’s a biennial which means last year we saw very few but this year it has flourished filling the entire border. Orange-tips need Garlic Mustard or Cuckoo flower (Cardamine pratensis) also known as Lady’s Smock to complete their lifecycle. We don’t have any Cuckoo flower in the garden; it is a plant preferring wet meadows, which unfortunately this garden isn’t.

I watched a video recently by The Rambling Entomologist, Trevor Pendleton who indicated that the female lays her eggs not in a cluster of plants but in singletons. There is a very good reason for this preference, which I will come back to shortly. 

Narcissus Bulb fly (Merodon equestris)

Discover the Darker side of Hoverfly Ecology

Narcissus Bulb fly (Merodon equestris) 

Wing Length 8.5-10.25mm Body Length 10-14mm Flight late Apr-early Jul.

Species to spot in May

Have you ever planted bulbs that never quite made it to flowering, and you’re left wondering why? If you’re fairly sure they haven’t been dug up by a local grey squirrel, this hoverfly might be the hidden culprit.

It’s a remarkable species with around 34 different disguises, often easily mistaken for several types of bumblebee. The adults begin emerging from the soil from late April through to the end of June, so it’s well worth checking your bulb pots. You might spot one warming up in the sunshine or drying its wings on the leaves of your plants.

The Greatest Soundtrack in the World

International Dawn Chorus Day 3rd of May

It’s International Dawn Chorus Day on the 3rd of May. So, if you don’t know your blackbird from your robin song, or your blue tit from your great tit call this might just help.

May is a fantastic month for listening to birdsong, so you can always choose a morning that suits you better, if you can’t make the 3rd of May. If like me, early mornings really aren’t appealing, I’ve included a couple of alternative ideas later in the article that don’t require setting an alarm at all.

Anyone who loves birds will tell you that the dawn chorus is the greatest soundscape of all. Not the Top 40 blaring from a radio, but the voices of birds singing as the very first light appears. It’s a soundscape that has been playing since birds evolved — if not before. While the coffee brews, it’s one of those rare, glorious moments in the day when you can simply sit, listen, and let the birds do the talking.

Now people who know me well, know I am not a morning person. I have had several mugs designed that specifically state ‘don’t talk to me before my second cup of coffee.’ Early starts are very much not my thing. I am more of a night owl and would rather, as I am doing right now, stay up late and enjoy the silence, when everyone has gone to bed. It’s a time when the noise in my head finally quietens, and my creative thoughts can make their way through my fingertips. Whether I actually achieve that is for you to decide.

And yet, three times this spring I’ve dragged myself up at the crack of dawn to listen to that dawn-time symphony. And yes, I’ll have brain fog for the rest of the day — but every single time, it’s been worth it.

Hoverfly Spotter Apr 26 Sightings – part 3

Hoverflies, Silkstone Waggonway, & Local sightings.

I love it when I can find nature right on my doorstep, it’s even better when it’s in one's own garden. The Dandelions are in full bloom and the Garlic Mustard also known as Jack by the Hedge is just coming into flower ready for any passing Orange Tips.

But what other wonders and nature’s joy have I seen this week.

Hoverflies in Historical Books part 2.

Exploration of hoverflies within historical books & manuscripts, examining the scientific understanding each portrayed or intended. 

In my research for articles about individual hoverfly species, I always widen the search looking for any historical or cultural contexts. This broader approach often uncovers fascinating references to hoverflies in old historical manuscripts and early books, hidden gems that reveal stories and observations worthy of a deeper investigation. 

If you haven’t read Hoverflies in Historical Books part 1 – now is the perfect moment to do so and get up to speed with the journey so far.

For those who have read part 1, thank you – here is a brief recap.

The simple question was:  What is the oldest hoverfly ever recorded in print? 

Our search in the story so far paused in 1720 with Eleazar Albin’s 'A Natural History of English insects'  illustrating observed behaviour in the White-clubbed Glasswing (Scaeva pyrastri) 

But the question still to be answered is - are there any older references to hoverflies hidden within earlier texts?

Let’s find out….

Hoverfly Spotter Apr 26 Sightings – part 2

Hoverflies, Adwick Washlands, Moth trapping in my Garden, Critters down the River.

It has been a week of firsts, as you will see shortly.

It also an exciting time of year spring, as every corner you turn on a nature walk, you are likely to find something that delights, either something that has just blossomed, flowered, dropped in, flown past, hovers or just sits there waiting for you to spot it. That was very much the case with a trip down the river, even though it was only a week since my last visit. Looking up can even sometimes deliver something very special.

Then there are trips revisiting an old haunt and so for the first time this year, a visit to Adwick Washlands. A time of year when you hope migrants have flown in overnight from countries afar. Some very cool birds were spotted this week which I can’t wait to share, including one flagged by the BTO as a rarity for South Yorkshire.

Putting the moth trap out is always a special any time of year, as the next morning it’s a little bit like Christmas, you never know when you open up the trap what might be inside. But the first time is always special as it dawns a new season of moth trapping, with the promise of many Christmas days to come throughout the year. The question being will the trap be empty or full of moths to identify, and will those moths be regulars or newbies?

Bet you are wondering what all these sightings might be, well wonder no more as all will be revealed.

Hoverfly Spotter Apr 26 Sightings – part 1

Potteric Carr, Hoverflies, Visit to Wentworth, My Garden & Down the Dearne.

The clocks went forward 29th March and despite storm Dave blowing through, I did manage to get out for some hoverfly spotting last week. Here are some of my highlights

Observations in the garden: 

Spring has been quietly rehearsing its rituals. Robins court in plain sight, the male offering mealworms plucked from the lawn, a tender exchange of trust. Dunnocks flirt in a flutter of wings, mercifully discreet this time, with no cloacal pecking to report. From the treetops, greenfinches spill their wheezing trills into the air, while great tits hurry about with urgent purpose — busy, busy, busy —rather than their familiar teacher teacher sounds heard, that will come later.

Queen bees drift low through the undergrowth, mostly buff-tailed, prospecting patiently for the promise of a nest. Nearby, a male Hairy-footed Flower Bee runs his daily circuit, diligently visiting every purple bloom, favouring the Lungwort in his search for a female. The Blackcaps have returned singing a tuneful melody and I am awakening to the sound of a dawn chorus right outside my bedroom window. 

Though the garden has brimmed with birdsong, hoverflies have been few, nudging me beyond the garden gate this week. But before we head out, there was a visit from a Spring Small Dung Beetle (Aphodius prodromus) a new species for me.  Welcome to the garden.