Sun Fly

Fascinating facts about the Sun Fly

• Helophilus pendulus is a European hoverfly whose adult wing-length measures between 8.5 and 11.25 mm. This modest size is typical for the species across its extensive range, which stretches from the Mediterranean up to Scandinavia and eastward through Russia to the Pacific. The precise measurement helps entomologists confirm identification when examining specimens collected in any of these regions.
• The abdomen of the sun fly displays a bold mix of yellow, black and grey, a pattern that has earned it the nickname "footballer". The second and third abdominal segments are chiefly yellow with striking black bands across the apex and centre, while the fourth segment is largely black with only small dull yellow crescents on each side.
• On the hind legs of the sun fly, at least the apical half of the tibia is pale yellow, a much larger extent than in its close relatives where only the apical third shows this colour. The middle tibia of Helophilus pendulus is entirely pale, contrasting with species such as H. groenlandicus that retain a dark tip. Additionally, the mid-tarsi bear extensive dark markings on their distal segments, a feature not shared by species like H.
• The sun fly's larvae develop in extremely wet organic material, having been recorded in cow-dung, very wet manure and even soggy old sawdust. Such moisture-rich sites provide the conditions the young need to thrive. While they grow they feed on detritus, breaking down the decaying matter around them. This feeding habit helps recycle nutrients in the micro-habitat where they live.
• Adult sun flies are noted for wandering far from any pond or stream, so they often turn up in gardens and fields well away from water. They regularly visit flowers to feed, and they commonly pause on leaves where they may emit a soft buzz while resting. This habit lets them exploit nectar sources across a wide landscape, not just the wet habitats where they breed.

Sources

Every fact above was checked against these pages, and kept only where one of them states it.

• Wikipedia

At a glance

About the Sun Fly

As the sun rises over the dew-kissed meadows, the sun fly, Helophilus pendulus, stirs to life, its iridescent body glimmering like a shard of splintered light as it takes to the air. With a hypnotic dance of flight, it weaves through the grasses, its delicate wings beating at a mesmerizing pace as it pursues the sweet nectar of blooming wildflowers. In its effortless, whirling motion, the sun fly embodies the very essence of warmth and vitality, a tiny, shimmering embodiment of the sun's own radiant energy.

More insects and spiders to discover

Browse Feravox