If anyone knows the species for these flies, I would appreciate an ID.

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I take most of my fly images with my MP-E 65.  Once in awhile I use my 180L but I like the larger size of the fly that I can achieve with magnifications higher than 1x.  Of course, this requires that I get even closer to the fly.  When I use my 180L, it is much easier to get shots but I tend not to like them as much unless it happens to be a large fly.  For lighting, I always use a MT-24EX.  For the most part, taking high quality pictures of insects with only ambient light is not practical.

The problem most people have is not in the gear, but in scaring the fly off.  Flies are very skittish (they are used to us swatting them) and will take off at a moment’s notice.  Even today the majority of flies I attempt to photograph take off before I can get a shot off, but with patience I can get the shots I want.  The first piece of advice that most people offer is to not get in the fly’s light.  I have found this rule to also be true, so it is always a good idea to know where the sun is.  This also makes it a bit easier to photograph flies on overcast days.

As is true with all insects, mornings, late afternoons, and colder days are the best times to photograph.  However, I have noticed that many types of flies only come out when it is warm and sunny.  You can find flies in almost all types of weather, and certainly it is a good idea to start out on cold days, but you’ll also have to get used to photographing them on the hot, sunny days as well if you want more varieties of flies.

On the hot, sunny days, I try two different strategies.  The first strategy, which I find does not work as well, is to work very softly and keep a lookout.  When you see a fly, slowly approach it with your lens and hope to get close enough to get a shot off.  This is how I search for a number of different insects, but has a high failure rate.  More often than not the fly gets away before I even have a hope of getting a shot off.  However, with patience I eventually find a fly that is more patient.

The other approach, which requires more patience, has a much higher probability of success.  Basically you find a spot where flies seem to frequent and you “set up shop”.  Basically sit down, sit still, and wait.  Eventually, when you see a fly, slowly move your lens toward it.  Since you were already there, it will pay less attention and you’ll have a better shot of getting it.  In my experience, I also notice a number of other insects that I would not have otherwise noticed.  The shot above used this technique.  The other major advantage of this method is you often get more shots off of the fly.

In terms of framing, always try to get the fly from the front.  Side and back views (which are all too common) are just not interesting.  It might take a bit more patience to wait for the fly to face forward, but the end shot will be worth it.  I don’t bother even taking the shot if the fly is facing the wrong way.  Some side shots, though, can be interesting.

The main key is to keep in mind the way the fly is facing as you want the shot to be interesting for your viewers.

One thing to take away from all of these approaches and advice is that you must be patient.  Fly photography is something that is best done in solitude, with no one to distract you.  It is also something that usually fails when you are in a hurry.  However, with some patience and time you’ll find that these shots are not very difficult to achieve.

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I don’t like the white background at all in this shot, but I had to take what the fly provided.  I tried photographing another two other hoverflies in more photogenic areas but none of the shots turned out.  Note that whenever taking insects on a white background, make sure to dial up the MT-24EX a stop or two.  Otherwise the picture will show up as too dark due to the metering in the camera.  This picture is close to the brightness of the original, but previous shots I took were too dark.

After reading a bit though, I never knew how beneficial these flies truly are.

As larva, hoverflies are very beneficial and many of them eat aphids.  A number of them also live in mud and dung but they seem to clean themselves up very well in the adult stage.  As adults, many hoverflies (of the family Syrphidae) feed on nectar and many are beneficial pollinators of plants and flowers.  Therefore these are one bug you do not want to swat.

Interestingly, many hoverflies practice mimicry – or more precisely – making themselves looking like bees and wasps.  This discourages predators from attacking them due to fear of their sting.  Some hoverflies are so good at this deception that I have questioned how close I should get.

Despite their similarities, hoverflies are in the order Diptera (along with house flies) and bees and wasps are in the order Hymenoptera (along with ants).  Therefore the similarities for the most part are strictly on the outside.  For example, hoverflies don’t sting – making them even better photography subjects.

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During a recent outing in the ponds next to my work, I found several flies and managed to successfully photography them.  This is the first one I found.

After some research, I can conclusively state that I have no idea what type of fly this is.  It does look somewhat similar to a tachinid fly, but I am far from certain.  Therefore, I will name this fly for my own sake and give it the very scientific name of “mini-fly”.  In terms of mini-fly’s habits, it likes to sit on moss.  Here’s a front view of mini-fly.

The following is a fly that I was able to identify.

Actually this isn’t truly a fly – as flies belong to the order diptera.  This guy (or gal) belongs to the order hymenoptera – which also includes wasps, bees, and ants.  It is called a sawfly and gets its name from the similarity of the ovipositor (the part that lays eggs) with a saw.  They primarily feed on plants and algae, though some do eat wood.  This particular sawfly is in the family pamphilidae, also called web-spinning sawflies.  Interestingly, they spin webs or tents in which they feed.  Web-spinning sawflies can be identified by their forward head that is rather wide for the length.  Here’s a better shot showing the head.

Note also on the picture above it the presence of what look like three “eyes” on the top of its head.  I’m not sure if those are actually eyes, or something else.  The picture above is of a different individual – note that it does not have the stripes on the abdomen.  These may be two separate species, though other than the stripes they certainly look the same.  Here’s a top view showing the “eyes”.

Some of these sawflies defoliate the leaves of conifers and may be considered to be pests.  Still, if they are pests then they are very interesting pests.  In particular, I suspect the stripes on the abdomen are a type of mimicry – to make predators think that it is a bee with a stinger.

This is all for the flies today, though I suspect that I’ll be posting more pictures of them as the summer arrives.

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