This ungainly looking fly with a long, straight proboscis is Empis tessellata, seen here feeding on hogweed nectar. That isn't its only reason for lurking on hogweed umbels though - it's a predator of other small flies that are attracted to the flowers.
Individual hogweed flowers secrete nectar from the surface of the ovary, from which a pair of styles with stigmas at their tips arise. The nectar is a very convenient energy source for small insects. By providing small amounts of nectar on numerous flowers, the plant ensures that the pollinator must wander all over the surface of the umbel to collect it, accidentally pollinating stigmas of many flowers in the process.
Empidid flies are sometimes known as dagger flies, on account of those long piercing mouthparts. This is the largest British species.
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Clever plant! Interesting post.
ReplyDeleteIt's amazing to see the fly in such close detail... a little terrifying but strangely beautiful too. The metallic lustre of its body and muted tones of the wings is something we may not notice with normal vision. Even flies can be beautiful. :)
ReplyDeleteYour insect photos never cease to amaze!
ReplyDeleteHi lotusleaf, it's certainly a plant that attracts a very wide range of visitors..
ReplyDeleteHi Lesley, there's such an enormous range of different fly species too, with amazing variation
ReplyDeleteHi Ellen, very hit and miss, but when they are in focus the pictures reveal a lot of detail.
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