Honeybee on ‘Sombrero Adobe Orange’ coneflower

© Cindy Dyer. All rights reserved.

Skipper on ‘Sombrero Adobe Orange’ coneflower

© Cindy Dyer. All rights reserved.

Skipper on Purple coneflower

Skipper on Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)

© Cindy Dyer. All rights reserved.

Hoverfly on a Shasta daisy

© Cindy Dyer. All rights reserved.

Hoverfly (also known as a flower fly or syrphid fly) on a Shasta daisy

Here’s a random fact I just came across: there is a flower fly found only in the cloud forests of Costa Rica that is named for Bill Gates (Bill Gates’ flower fly). Another one is named after Gates’ associate Paul Allen (Paul Allen’s flower fly). The flies were named such in recognition of their “great contributions to the science of Dipterology” (From the order Diptera, which includes insects that use just two wings to fly)

So now you know, too. You’re welcome. 😁

But wait! There’s more! Curiosity took me to a site that answered my burning question—how long do hoverflies live? A lot shorter life than I imagined! Here’s the answer:

Their live span is similar to other flies. They can live anywhere between 15 to 30 days and it all depends on the climate and temperature they are in.

Tiger on a tiger: Eastern Tiger swallowtail on Tiger lily

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Buffet line: Skippers on Purple coneflower

© Cindy Dyer. All rights reserved.

Skipper butterfly

© Cindy Dyer. All rights reserved.

Skipper butterfly on Verbena bonariensis (also called Vervain)