Hoverfly Dines on Cilantro Blossoms

by Joe Schofield

Title

Hoverfly Dines on Cilantro Blossoms

Artist

Joe Schofield

Medium

Photograph - Photography

Description

A posterior, portrait-mode macro shot of a marmalade hoverfly sampling a cilantro blossom. As point of reference, the multiple small blossoms comprise the umbral, and each individual blossom is approximately 1/4" in diameter. The moment of capture highlights the delicate interaction between the insect and the bloom.
Busy competing with the honeybees, hoverflies are fascinating pollinators and masters of aerial ballet, routinely flying sideways and backwards. From eyes to tail, the hoverfly is approximately 9/16th of an inch.
Hoverflies, known for their impressive hovering abilities, achieve flight through a combination of aerodynamic principles, coordinated wing movements, and specialized sensory organs. Their wings beat out of sync, creating torque for rolling maneuvers and using asymmetrical wing strokes to initiate righting reflexes. Specialized organs called halteres, which act like gyroscopic sensors, provide crucial feedback for rapid orientation adjustments.

By late spring, the cilantro has bolted in the raised bed and the competition is on between the bees and hoverflies.

Uploaded

July 8th, 2026

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