Aphid wars IV a new hope

[Cobra]

Its about time the clean up crew arrived.

In coming


030 by Cobra, on Flickr

Stealth mode


010 by Cobra, on Flickr

Going over the hill


021 by Cobra, on Flickr


The pounce


027 by Cobra, on Flickr

 

[GardenersHelper]

Nice set. The last and, even more, the first appeal most to my eye.

 

[Cobra]

Nice set. The last and, even more, the first appeal most to my eye.

Thanks Nick, much appreciated and TBH I see what you mean

 

[Testudo Man]

Nice images.
By the posturing/position of this Hoverfly (in the last 3 shots) it would seem like the Hoverfly might be ovipositing/egg laying??

 

[Cobra]

it would seem like the Hoverfly might be ovipositing/egg laying?

I'd not thought of that, but now you mention it, you could well be right Paul

 

[Testudo Man]

I'd not thought of that, but now you mention it, you could well be right Paul

I have a photo (somewhere, on my old PC) with a Hoverfly laying an egg, which looks similar to your images.
I know she laid an egg, because when she flew off, I could see the tiny egg left by her.

 

[alfbranch]

Nice set and the last is my fave
She is definitely ovipositing the next stage is a monster eating the aphids I have no evidence the shots shown are the same species


A lion in a flock of compliant sheep
Hover-fly-larvae-eating-aphid by Alf Branch, on Flickr

The reason for moving the aphid away from the twig is to not spook other aphids

Hover fly larva eating aphid by Alf Branch, on Flickr

 

[jakeblu]

Love the title, love the images, especially the first and last, but they're all cracking.

 

[Cobra]

I know she laid an egg, because when she flew off, I could see the tiny egg left by her.

zooming right in in 21 pretty sure that's an egg, in that case

She is definitely ovipositing the next stage is a monster eating the aphids I have no evidence the shots shown are the same species

Amazing images! Thanks for sharing those Alf
Every days a school day

Love the title, love the images, especially the first and last, but they're all cracking.

Cheers Steve, much appreciated

 

[alfbranch]

zooming right in in 21 pretty sure that's an egg, in that case
View attachment 275128


Amazing images! Thanks for sharing those Alf
Every days a school day


Cheers Steve, much appreciated

Yeah that is an egg I do not know how they take to hatch as my book Britain's hoverflies doesn't cover eggs and larvae

 

[Cobra]

do not know how they take to hatch as my book Britain's hoverflies doesn't cover eggs and larvae

I got curious, google tells me that the eggs hatch in 2-3 days during the summer..
I'll have another look in a couple of days ( I know which flower that was ... )

It does seem quick to me, but google never lies eh?

 

[Mike.P]

All this egg talk took me back to when I first started didgital photography, I took up the hobby mainly to do macro and this was one of my best shots at the time. The hoverfly landed on some decking we had just had put up and started to lay these eggs ... I remember making a mad dash for the camera. That was 11 years ago now.


Hover Fly Laying Eggs by Mike.Pursey, on Flickr