Helophilus pendulus

Helophilus pendulus – Footballer Hoverfly

Like a lot of insects not all hoverflies have common names, but a few have several like the ‘Footballer Hoverfly’, which is also known as the striped hoverfly and sunlover – the striped ‘jersey’ makes it redolent of wearing foorball kit.

However, few other hoverflies have a more romantic name than the translation of the scientific name (Helophilus pendulus) ‘dangling sun-lover’.

Talking of romance – how about these two… imagine the ‘Sun’ headline!

Two Footballers Found Copulating in an Urban Garden

But, of course, most sightings are of hoverflies doing what most insects do throught the day… feeding.

Or just posing to show off their beauty…

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