Hi there, I was walking around today when I noticed an odd sound from a bush, I though it was a quiet frog squeal at first, but then noticed it was coming from the leaves. As I move around I noticed hoverflies (Syrphus or a lookalike) that were flying around and sitting down on the leaves, and when…

Do you kind of know what species of hoverfly they were? Where do you live? The location can also be helpful.

My best guess is a Syrphus, black/yellow striped body but lanky rather than round. I’m in the East Midlands and was in a wooded area near a local nature reserve.

So, was this sound any different from their wing sound in flight?

Yeah, it wasn’t a buzz of any kind that I’ve heard before, like I said my first though was a frog squealing. It was like listening to a bush full of balloons letting air out slowly, - just more quiet.

Here they state they can make sounds Spilomyia also makes a high-pitched buzzing sound if disturbed, hypothesized to be an attempt to sound, as well as look, like a wasp. https://academic.oup.com/beheco/article/20/2/396/219124 The distinct high-pitched acoustic response to attack had a signifi…

Were their wings still moving when this sound was made? I wonder if the leaves were amplifying the vibration like a sounding board - or perhaps an effect of the downdraft of the wings on the leaves. If by ‘lanky’ you mean long-bodied then Sphaerophoria is perhaps an option. (Syrphus itself though …

They did not appear to be moving their wings, and they only did the sound when sitting on the leaves. They also tended to fly off if I got too close so couldn’t get a proper look.

Next time I wander through an East Midlands LNR I shall pay attention to the wheezing Syrphines! Perhaps they’re still recovering from the epic heat…! (I did get a picture of a Syrphus that was flying at 39-point-something °C on Tuesday - not uploaded yet)

Have you checked the article I linked? Was their wing position similar to that?

It’s possible, but I honestly don’t remember clearly enough. I don’t remember them ‘t-posing’ with their wings in any case. Sort of regretting not taking my phone out for photos/vids because I was just too busy trying to figure out what I was hearing…

[UK] Do hoverflies make noises?

Nature Talk

matthewvosper August 8, 2022, 9:09am 15

Aye, that is indeed a male Syrphus sp.

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[UK] Do hoverflies make noises?

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