Ross Hoddinott / 2020VISION / Hoverfly (Syrphus ribesii) feeding on Common ragwort (Senecio jacobaea) flower, Arne RSPB reserve, Dorset, England, UK, August

Kim Taylor / Volucella Hoverfly (Volucella pellucens) feeding on Hogweed (Heracleum sphondylium) flowers. Surrey, UK, June.

Kim Taylor / Drone / Hover Fly (Eristalis tenax) female against a white background. Surrey, UK, May.

Nick Upton / Hoverfly (Myathropa florea), using proboscis to feed on pollen from anthers of Ivy flowers (Hedera helix). Wiltshire garden, UK, September

Wild Wonders of Europe / Geslin / Yellow-legged moustached icon hoverfly (Syrphus ribesii) resting on leaf in the Vatican garden with St Peter's in the background, Rome, Italy, March 2010

Stephen Dalton / Hoverfly (Eristalis tenax) taking off from Snapdragon flower, UK

Stephen Dalton / Drone fly (Eristalis similis) in flight over summer bedding flowers, England, UK

Stephen Dalton / Dronefly (Eristalis similis) taking off from Snapdragon (Antirrhinum) flower, UK

Stephen Dalton / Hoverfly (Volucella bombylans) feeding on flower. This species is a Bumblebee mimic, UK

Stephen Dalton / Hoverfly (Syrphus ribesii) feeding on (Cynara sp) flower, UK.

Wild Wonders of Europe / Geslin / Yellow-legged moustached icon hoverfly (Syrphus ribesii) on leaf in garden of Vatican City, Rome, Italy, March 2010

Stephen Dalton / Hoverfly (Eristalis tenax) flying into spider's web, UK

Bernard Castelein / Hover-fly flying {Syrphidae} Belgium

Tim Laman / Sooty terns (Onychoprion fuscatus) hover over their nesting colony on Teuaua Islet, off Ua Huka Island, Marquesas Islands, French Polynesia.

Kim Taylor / Male hoverfly hovering {Eristalis sp.} Europe.

Nick Upton / Hoverfly (Eristalis intricarius) male feeding on flowering Wild marjoram (Origanum vulgare) chalk grassland meadow, Wiltshire, UK, July

Nick Upton / Violet black-legged robber fly (Dioctria atricapilla) with a hoverfly as prey, chalk grassland meadow, Wiltshire, UK, June.

Nick Upton / Sunfly (Helophilus pendulus) feeding on Woolly thistle flower (Cirsium eriophorum), chalk grassland meadow, Wiltshire, UK, August.

Colin Varndell / Hover-fly (Helophilus pendulus) on Michaelmas daisy flower. Dorset, UK, September.

Alex Hyde / Hoverfly (Helophilus pendulus), overhead view showing Batesian wasp mimicry, photographed on a white background. Derbyshire, UK. September.

Alex Hyde / Hoverfly (Syrphus ribesii) showing Batesian mimicry, overhead view photographed on a white backgroud. Derbyshire, UK. August.

Alex Hyde / Prong horn Hoverfly (Chrysotoxum festivum) head on portrait of the wasp mimic, photographed on a white background, Aosta Valley, Monte Rosa Massif, Pennine Alps, Italy. July.

Alex Hyde / Prong horn Hoverfly (Chrysotoxum festivum), a wasp mimic, photographed on a white background, Aosta Valley, Monte Rosa Massif, Pennine Alps, Italy. July.

Alex Hyde / Prong horn Hoverfly (Chrysotoxum festivum), a wasp mimic, photographed on a white background, Aosta Valley, Monte Rosa Massif, Pennine Alps, Italy. July.

Colin Varndell / Hover-fly (Helophilus pendulus) on flower, September. England

Brent Stephenson / Bulwer's petrel (Bulweria bulwerii) in flight low over the sea showing upperwing, with tail slightly flared as it comes into hover and feed. Off Madeira, North Atlantic. May.

Alex Mustard / A pair of needle cuttlefish (Sepia aculeata) hover over the sand, while the male, on the left, gives a warning display with his arms raised, Seraya, Tulamben, Bali, Indonesia, South East Asia.

Chris Gomersall / 2020VISION / Hoverfly (Eupeodes luniger) on Bedstraw (Galium sp) flower in a herb rich conservation margin at RSPB's Hope Farm Reseve, Cambridgeshire, England, UK, July

Rod Williams / Hornet mimic Hoverfly (Volucella zonaria) feeding on Ivy flowers, South London, UK, September

Rod Williams / Hoverfly (Syrphus ribesii) on leaf, South London, UK, August

Rod Williams / Striped hoverfly (Helophilus pendulus) resting on leaf, South London, UK, August

Rod Williams / Marmalade hoverfly (Episyrphus balteatus) in flight, South London, UK, August

Rod Williams / Marmalade hoverfly (Episyrphus balteatus) sunning, South London, UK, August

Rod Williams / Drone Fly (Eristalis Tenax) feeding on nectar of Ivy flower, South London, UK, October

Rod Williams / Drone fly (Eristalis Tenax) feeding on nectar of Ivy flower, South London, UK, October

Rod Williams / Tapered hoverfly (Eristalis pertinax) feeding on nectar of Ivy flower, South London, UK, October

Rod Williams / Hoverfly (Syrphus ribesii) feeding on nectar of Ivy flower, South London, UK, October

Rod Williams / Hornet mimic hoverfly (Volucella zonaria) on Ivy leaf, South London, UK, July

Rod Williams / Drone fly (Eristalis tenax) on leaf South London, UK, October

Rod Williams / Hoverfly (Helophilus pendulus) on leaf, South London, UK, October

Rod Williams / Hoverfly (Syrphus ribesii) feeding on nectar of Ivy flower, South London, UK, October

Rod Williams / Tapered hoverfly (Eristalis pertinax) feeding on nectar of Ivy flower, South London, UK, October

Rod Williams / Hoverfly (Syrphus ribesii) feeding on nectar of Ivy flower, South London, UK, October

Rod Williams / Hoverfly (Syrphus ribesii) on leaf, South London, UK, October

Rod Williams / Hornet mimic hoverfly (Volucella zonaria) feeding on Ivy flowers, South London, UK, September

Rod Williams / Dead head hoverfly (Myathropa florea) on Ivy leaf, South London, UK

Nick Upton / Male Hoverfly (Sphaerophoria scripta) feeding on Common ragwort flower (Senecio jacobea), chalk grassland meadow, Wiltshire, UK, July.

Nick Upton / Narcissus bulb fly / Large narcissus fly (Merodon equestris var. flavicans), resting on St. John's wort flower (Hypericum), Wiltshire garden, UK, July.

Nick Upton / Male Hoverfly (Sphaerophoria scripta) feeding on Common ragwort flower (Senecio jacobea), chalk grassland meadow, Wiltshire, UK, July.

Nick Upton / Female Prong horn hoverfly (Chrysotoxum bicinctum) feeding on Hoary plantain flower (Plantago media), chalk grassland meadow, Wiltshire, UK, July.

Nick Upton / 2020VISION / Hoverfly (Eristalis tenax), a honey bee mimic, basking in sun on Ivy leaf (Hedera helix) in garden, with house in background, Wiltshire, England, UK, April . Property released.

Nick Upton / 2020VISION / Sun fly / Striped hoverfly (Helophilus pendulus), feeding on Ivy flower (Hedera helix) in garden, with house in background, Wiltshire, England, UK, October . Property released.

Nick Upton / 2020VISION / Marmalade hoverfly (Episyrphus balteatus) feeding on Ivy flower (Hedera helix) in garden, with house in background, Wiltshire, England, UK, October . Property released.

Nick Upton / 2020VISION / Marmalade hoverfly (Episyrphus balteatus) feeding on Ivy flower (Hedera helix) in garden, with house in background, Wiltshire, England, UK, October . Property released.

Nick Upton / 2020VISION / Great pied hover fly (Volucella pellucens) visiting Cotoneaster flowering in a garden, with a house in the background, Wiltshire, England, UK, May . Property released.

Nick Upton / 2020VISION / Hover fly (Eristalis tenax), a honey bee mimic, in flight past washing hanging out to dry in a garden, Wiltshire, England, UK, April . Property released.

Nick Upton / 2020VISION / Hover fly (Eristalis tenax), a honeybee mimic, feeding on Clematis flower (Clematis almondii) in a garden, Wiltshire, UK, March. Did you know? There are about 250 species of hoverfly in Britain.

Nick Upton / 2020VISION / Hoverfly (Eristalis tenax), a honey bee mimic, feeding on Ivy flower (Hedera helix) in garden near a house, Wiltshire, England, UK, October . Property released.

Nick Upton / 2020VISION / Hover fly (Eristalis tenax) on a Mexican orange blossom (Choisya ternata) flowering in a garden, with house in background, Wiltshire, UK, April . Property released.

Nick Upton / 2020VISION / Hoverfly (Eristalis tenax), a honey bee mimic, feeding on Ivy flower (Hedera helix) in garden, with house in background, Wiltshire, England, UK, October . Property released.

Nick Upton / 2020VISION / Hover fly (Eristalis tenax), honey bee mimic, foraging on Pink aster (Aster novae-angliae) flower in garden, Wiltshire, England, UK, September . Property released.

Ann & Steve Toon / Striped hoverfly (Helophilus pendulus) feeding on dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) Northumberland National Park, UK, September.

Andy Rouse / Short Eared Owl (Asio flammeus) hovering over long grass in search of prey. UK, December.

Andy Sands / Hoverfly (Sicus ferrugineus). This fly deposits its eggs on various species of bumble bee that serve as hosts for the parasitic larvae. Hertfordshire, England, June.

Ross Hoddinott / 2020VISION / Hover fly {Episyrphus balteatus} feeding on nectar from Field rose (Rosa arvensis), Denmark Farm, Lampeter, Wales, UK. June

Ross Hoddinott / 2020VISION / Hover fly {Episyrphus balteatus} feeding on nectar from Field rose (Rosa arvensis), Denmark Farm, Lampeter, Wales, UK. June

Ross Hoddinott / 2020VISION / Hover fly {Episyrphus balteatus} feeding on nectar of Field rose (Rosa arvensis), Denmark Farm, Lampeter, Wales, UK. June

Laurent Geslin / Shining-faced drone fly / hover fly (Eristalis tenax) male feeding on garden flower, Switzerland, May

Nick Upton / Orange Belted Plume Horn Hoverfly (Volucella inflata) feeding on Mexican Orange blossom (Choisya ternata) flowers. Wiltshire garden, UK, May.

Nick Upton / Hoverfly (Platycheirus albimanus) feeding on Yellow rocket (Barbarea vulgaris) flowers. Wiltshire, UK, April.

Nick Upton / Orange Belted Plume Horn Hoverfly (Volucella inflata) feeding on Mexican Orange blossom (Choisya ternata) flowers. Wiltshire garden, UK, May.

Nick Upton / Hoverfly (Platycheirus albimanus) feeding on sugary secretions from aphids on a leaf surface. Wiltshire garden, UK, May.

Nick Upton / Male hoverfly (Syritta pipiens) feeding on Wild Angelica (Angelica sylvestris) flowerhead on river bank. Wiltshire, UK, June.

Nick Upton / Hoverfly (Orthonevra nobilis) sunbasking on a leaf. Wiltshire garden, UK, May.

Ernie Janes / Hoverfly larvae (Syrphidae) in stagnant water, UK

Ben Hall / 2020VISION / Hoverfly (Helophilus pendulus) on grass stem, Montiagh's Moss, County Antrim, Northern Ireland, UK, June

Ben Hall / 2020VISION / Hoverfly (Syrphidae) feeding on leaf, Brackagh Nature Reserve, County Down, Northern Ireland, UK, June

Ben Hall / 2020VISION / Hoverfly (Syrphidae) feeding on flower, Brackagh Nature Reserve, County Down, Northern Ireland, UK, June

Ben Hall / 2020VISION / Hoverfly (Syrphidae) feeding on flower, Brackagh Nature Reserve, County Down, Northern Ireland, UK, June

Konrad Wothe / Marmalade Hover Fly (Episyrphus balteatus) approaching Maiden's Tears (Silene vulgaris) flowers, Upper Bavaria, Germany

Andy Sands / Hover fly (Volucella pellucens) bee mimic lays eggs inside wasps nests where young live as scavengers, Hertfordshire, England, August

Will Watson / Male Dronefly (Eristalis tenax) on Ivy (Hedera helix). Herefordshire, England, October.

Simon Colmer / Hoverfly larva (Syrphus sp.) on leaf. Sussex, UK

Kim Taylor / Volucella Hoverfly (Volucella pellucens) feeding on Hogweed (Heracleum sphondylium) flowers. Surrey, UK, June.

Kim Taylor / Volucella Hoverfly (Volucella pellucens) feeding on Hogweed (Heracleum sphondylium) flowers. Surrey, UK, June.

Kim Taylor / Hoverfly (Dasysyrphus venustus) resting on leaf. Surrey, UK, June.

Kim Taylor / Drone / Hover Fly (Eristalis tenax) female against a white background. Surrey, UK, May.

Kim Taylor / Drone / Hover Fly (Eristalis tenax) female cleaning front legs, on a white background. Surrey, UK, May.

Nick Upton / Band-eyed Drone Fly (Eristalinus taeniops) feeding on Variegated Spurge (Euphorbia marginata) flowers. Lesbos / Lesvos, Greece, August.

Nick Upton / Male Great pied hoverfly (Volucella pellucens), a parasite of wasp nests, resting on a leaf. Wiltshire garden, UK, June

Nick Upton / Hoverfly (Xylota segnis) sunbasking on a leaf. Wiltshire garden, UK, September

Nick Upton / Hornet (Vespa crabro) holding Hornet hoverfly / Banded hoverfly (Volucella zonaria), a hornet mimic, which it has killed and decapitated on tarmac driveway after attacking it while it was feeding. Wil...

Nick Upton / Hoverfly (Volucella bombylans var. plumata) mimicking a White-tailed bumblebee, standing on a leaf with front feet rasied. This hoverfly is a parasite of bumblebee and wasp nests. Wiltshire garden, UK...

Nick Upton / Male Great pied hoverfly (Volucella pellucens), a parasite of wasp nests, feeding from a Variegated mock orange (Philadelphus coronarius "aureus") flower. Wiltshire garden, UK, June

Nick Upton / Copper glint hoverfly (Ferdinandea cuprea), using proboscis to feed on pollen from anthers of Ivy flowers (Hedera helix). Wiltshire garden, UK, September