Drone-fly

Hoverfly, Eristalis pertinax.  Lullingstone Country Park, 14 October 2011.

I took lots of photos of hoverflies last year. I think they are particularly beautiful flies, and there is quite a lot of variety among them. Some are tiny and delicate, some are big bruisers.

This one is medium-sized. Several hoverflies mimic more dangerous insects, and this has the common name Drone-fly because it resembles a honey-bee.  Even though it is not brightly coloured, it looks very elegant in different shades of brown.

I will post some more hoverflies in due course.