#BestFlyBook

Good to see our Photographic Guide to Flies of Britain & Ireland #BestFlyBook is already proving useful

The best spring flower display at @bbowt.bsky.social Dancersend for some years with early and later spring species now overlapping, and amongst them I spotted a new fly Bibio reticulatus, something I would not have recorded without #BestFlyBook bit.ly/4dqQI8Z - thanks to @naturebureau.bsky.social

To bee or not to bee - these 2 hoverflies are brilliant bee mimics - Left: Cheilosia chrysocoma mimics Tawny Mining Bee. Right: Criorhina floccosa mimics Common Carder Bee
@bbowt.bsky.social @dipteristsforum.bsky.social
@flygirlnhm.bsky.social - see our #BestFlyBook bit.ly/4dqQI8Z

The stunning male Microtendipes pedellus, a non-biting midge in the Chironomidae, can be seen in damp areas like this one on wild garlic in woodland along the Evenlode in West Oxon - See our #BestFlyBook bit.ly/4dqQI8Z @bbowt.bsky.social @gailashton.bsky.social @dipteristsforum.bsky.social

The male Silver Colonel is a stunning soldierfly of fens & marshes, this one seen at Rack Marsh nr Newbury, but you need to get the angle just right to capture its silvery abdomen. Look for it April-June #BestFlyBook bit.ly/4dqQI8Z @dipteristsforum.bsky.social @bbowt.bsky.social @tverc1.bsky.social

Over 1300 fly species are featured in our #BestFlyBook – the new Guide to Flies of Britain & Ireland, the most complete guide ever published. Order your copy here bit.ly/4dqQI8Z @flygirlnhm.bsky.social @dipteristsforum.bsky.social @gailashton.bsky.social @tverc1.bsky.social @rdimond.bsky.social

Often seen in gardens, this Common Stripeback hoverfly (Helophilus pendulus) was attracted to the Marsh-marigolds in full flower in our garden pond @bbowt.bsky.social @wildflowerhour.bsky.social @dipteristsforum.bsky.social
Find out more about flies in our new #BestFlyBook bit.ly/4dqQI8Z

Signs of Spring - my first sighting of a male Epistrophe eligans Spring Smoothtail hoverfly yesterday. Love its gold-tinted look.
@bbowt.bsky.social @bbcspringwatch.bsky.social
@dipteristsforum.bsky.social - Find out what other flies to look out for now in our NEW #BestFlyBook bit.ly/4dqQI8Z

A message thread with photos of a child reading 'A Photographic Guide Flies of Britain and Ireland' in the back seat of a car. The key parts of the messages read: We are learning about flies...she's been naming random flies for about 10mins so far...daggerflies yay! "

One of the great things about authoring a photographic guide is that it can be enjoyed by all ages. My friend sent me these of her friend's daughter pouring #BestFlyBook in the back of the car (like me with bird books on family holidays). Would be lovely if it inspires more young entomologists!

Nice to see a Dotted Bee-fly (Bombylius discolor) visiting primroses in our Oxford garden at the weekend. A few fresh Dark-edged Bee-flies (Bombylius major) were also seen
@bbowt.bsky.social @gailashton.bsky.social @flygirlnhm.bsky.social @dipteristsforum.bsky.social
#BestFlyBook bit.ly/4dqQI8Z

Cheilosia pagana, a small black hoverfly, is one of our earliest hoverflies to be seen, flying from March-October. The female is identified by its large orange antennae. #BestFlyBook bit.ly/4dqQI8Z @bbowt.bsky.social @dipteristsforum.bsky.social @gailashton.bsky.social @flygirlnhm.bsky.social

This beauty was spotted at BBOWT's Decoy Heath – a Green Parasite Fly Gymnocheta viridis. Males often bask on tree trunks @bbowt.bsky.social @dipteristsforum.bsky.social @gailashton.bsky.social @flygirlnhm.bsky.social @stevenfalk.bsky.social See our #BestFlyBook bit.ly/4dqQI8Z