After that grim post of August 21st, I must follow-up with a happier one. This is about hover flies or flower flies, members of the Syrphid family. To me, these tiny little bee mimics are beautiful and happy creatures.  Why I anthropomorphize "happy" I don't know.  Maybe it's the way they fly about with great energy and gusto. Maybe it's their ability to move their wings so fast that they hover in one place like a hummingbird or kestrel but on a minute scale.  Whenever I see them I smile.  Here are a few pictures from last summer: Flower Fly/Hover Fly

Flower Fly/Hover Fly
Syrphid

One late afternoon this summer I was in Brookline with my camera.  The sun was low and shining directly on a long patch of weeds and flowers. Hover flies abounded and a number of them were in mating pairs.  Oh Joy!  This pair stayed on this seed-head for the longest time. They didn't seem to mind my presence at all.  Happy little flies, yes?