Hoverfly morphology: the wings
The
function of any wing be it an insect or a bird is to give it maneuverability to
help catch its prey, avoid a predator, and maybe even assist in mating.
Ever
seen a hoverfly just hovering around flower petals, leaves or a stem infested
with aphids?
It’s
probably a female and what it is trying to do is lay an egg on the plant
without the aphids sending out chemical alarm calls. The egg of that hoverfly
if laid successfully will hatch and mature into a hoverfly larva that will eat
the aphids whilst it develops into an adult several weeks later. It goes
without saying that this is why hoverflies are a gardener’s best friend, as they
offer free pest control, if they are encouraged into your garden.
I
am no physicist, and the purpose of the blog is not to even try to explain the
process of flight. I hope however to ask the question of whether hoverflies are
masters of the air, being able to frankly hover.
