When I am intently searching for dragonflies, my eyes are drawn to anything that is moving through the air. Once I detect movement, I will try to track the subject until I am able to identify it. Early in the season, things were a bit easier, because there were not many insects around, but as the weather has warmed out, it has gotten tougher and the air now seems filled with grasshoppers, bees, and other flying creatures as I move about in the fields and forests.
As I was wandering about last Thursday in Prince William County, I detected a black and yellow insect and tracked it until it landed on some vegetation. Ten years ago, I might have simply called it a “bee”—my knowledge of insects was so limited that I would have divided insects into broad categories like bees and butterflies. If pushed for more specificity, I might have called this a “small bee.”
My identification skills and my knowledge of insects has grown exponentially over the years. As soon as I saw the way that the insect was flying, I could tell that it was a hover fly, a member of a group of flies that you may know as flower flies, because of where they can be found most often. I was immediately attracted to the beautiful, elaborate patterns on the insect’s body and recalled that I had seen a similar one last year in the garden of my friend Cindy Dyer.
I believe that this cool-looking hover fly belongs to a species known as the Eastern Calligrapher Fly (Toxomerus geminatus), though there are over six thousand hover fly species worldwide, so it could also be a related species. Nevertheless, I love the thought of someone hand drawing the delicately etched pattern with pen and ink, creating a miniature work of art.
As I was composing a shot, I grew fascinated with the details of the leaf on which the hover fly was perched—it is easy for me to lose myself when looking at the world through a macro lens. It appears that some other insect had been chewing on the leaf before the Calligrapher Fly arrived and I like the way that I was able to capture the holes in the gnawed-on leaf.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
I was once calling them bee as well. Guess I am not alone. 😜
Insect and bird identification can get complicated quickly when you realize how much diversity there actually is in nature. Learning more about all of these species is a humbling and never-ending process. 🙂
yes, 100% agree with you. There are many things that is waiting for us to explore.
Mike, I am enthralled by your photo of such detail. The leaf holes appear larger than the fly. Yet you captured such detail! Excellent shot! Thank you!👍👍
Thanks, Suzette. There was something incongruous about those large holes in the leaf and the relatively small fly. I like the fact that I was able to capture enough detail with my macro lens to be able to highlight that juxtaposition of elements.
Awesome👍
I would have gone with “bee-like-little-guy” but I do appreciate the information you give us, Mike.
One of my friends used to give me a hard time because I will sometimes make up names for species when I think the “official” one does not fit. He worried that I would influence others to learn an incorrect name and was not convinced that it was ok to have fun with names. I think I’d be happy with your “bee-like-little-guy” descriptor, Dan. 🙂
Thanks Mike.
Delightful prose with this image … I’m envisioning the little one going in for his “tattoo” before making his first “adult” flight …
I, too, like the leaf detail – and it emphasizes the wee size of the fly.
Thanks, Jazz. I had a fun time writing this posting. I knew what photo I was going to use, but until I saw down and started typing, I had not idea what I was going to say. I really enjoy that kind of “stream of consciousness” approach that helps to ensure that my prose is an accurate reflection of me and not some highly edited, stilted, or inauthentic version of who I am.
It is interesting to read your comment about identification skills. I can relate to this with fish and coral ID. You learn a lot through reference books and searches on the net and learn to spot tiny details that differentiate species.
I am not surprised that you have had a similar experience with fish and coral ID. For me the initial challenge was to look beyond some obvious characteristics like color and learn what areas to focus my attention on. For me it has been a long and continuous process and I sometimes forget how little I knew when I started out.
Mike, I have a random question! I need help! Do I capitalize Eastern Bluebird? Several sources say yes, others say no. What say you? Thank you!!
I tend to capitalize Eastern Bluebird, but not bluebird.
Proper name. I get it. Thank you!
PS-BEEutiful capture as always!
Hover flies are a favorite. One reason is the iridescence, almost like stained glass, of the wings when viewed at just the right angle such as you captured here.The abdomen is lovely too and does look like an artist’s careful work. It’s a beauty, Mike!
Thanks, Steve. I too enjoy seeing hoverflies and always look for them when I am in gardens especially.
Nice Mike! Enjoyed seeing your image of the Eastern Calligrapher Fly. Love the detail!