Hoverflies in Paintings

Hoverflies in Art:

When I first started my blog, I had this question about whether I could find and spot hoverflies on canvas or within historical books? I just wanted to see if they popped up anywhere at all. I figured old identification guides would have a few, but paintings? That felt like a long shot.

Fast forward a few months, and as I have been researching for my species articles I have stumbled across paintings and prints in books and to be honest, it’s been such a fascinating ride I would like to share! 

Turns out hoverflies have been making appearances in art way earlier than I ever imagined. So, I thought, why not pull all my findings together into one article? Up until now, the bits and pieces have been scattered across different posts on the site.

Here’s what I’ve uncovered so far: Updated 3rd Feb 2026 with better images from the paintings of the hoverflies.

         Still life with Bird’s nest - Jan Van Huysum (1718) & A stoneware vase of flowers - Jan Brueghel the Elder (1607-1608).

Hoverflies Art: Metamorphosis of the Rat-tailed fly

Metamorphosis of the Rat-tailed fly (Eristalis tenax)

Following on from my historical art article named ‘Volucellae and Bees’ I have found another piece of art illustrating hoverflies, which I wanted to share.

This is from a French book by Emile Blanchard titled ‘Metamorphoses, mœurs et instincts des insects (Insectes, myriapodes, ararchines, crustaces)’ Published: Paris, G. Baillière: in 1868, although I have only seen the 2nd edition published in 1877.

Metamorphosis in insects is the book’s subject matter written 24 years before Beddard’s book on mimicry called Animal coloration. As I do not read French the starting point for my interest was the English version of the book, but I did use translation software to read Blanchard’s original text about Syrphidae which was fascinating.

E. Blanchard’s book was adapted for English readers by P. M. Duncan F.R.S titled ‘The transformations (or metamorphoses) of insects: (Insecta, Myriapoda, Arachnida, and Crustacea.)’ and is a compilation of works from other scientists of the era George Newport, Charles Darwin but mainly the work of E.Blanchard.  Publication/Creation: London, Cassell Petter & Galpin, 1882.

I have extracted from the book one plate called the ‘Metamorphoses of a rat-tailed fly’ which I would like to discuss in more detail.

Hoverfly Art: Volucellae and Bees

Investigating Hoverfly Art

Animal Coloration: F.E.Beddard (1892)

In perusing the internet about Hoverflies I came across this print titled ‘Volucellae and Bees’ Plate IV, from a book by Frank Evers Beddard titled Animal coloration: An Account of the Principal Facts and Theories Relating to the Colours and Marking of Animals (1892) illustrated by Peter Smit and published by Swam Sonnenschein & Co.