How I spent my summer

To make sure that I get the most out of my summer holidays I usually set myself some goals, for example, read a novel a week. One of my goals this summer was to get a photograph clearly showing why the Spotted-eye Hoverfly (Eristalinus sp.) was thus called. It seemed like an easy task but these insects are very active fliers and very aware of anything new in their environment, like a photographer.

Hover flies are one of the major groups of pollinating insects, visiting a wide range of flowers, with the adults feeding exclusively on nectar and pollen. Some hoverflies only pollinate one flower species. Hoverflies of the genus Eristalinus are characterized by distinctive eye markings. Their larvae live in aquatic and semi-aquatic environments and have the ability to filter and purify water.

After five weeks of racing around a variety of white or pale-yellow flowered bushes I have ONE semi-decent photo (below).

Job done. Now on to the next goal. Where am I going to find a female Feather-horned Beetle???