{"id":6953,"date":"2026-06-05T12:35:23","date_gmt":"2026-06-05T12:35:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pawel.stefanoff.pl\/bugs\/?p=6953"},"modified":"2026-08-14T18:51:27","modified_gmt":"2026-08-14T18:51:27","slug":"2026-06-secret-life-of-the-migrant-marsh-fly-en","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pawel.stefanoff.pl\/bugs\/posts\/2026-06-secret-life-of-the-migrant-marsh-fly-en\/","title":{"rendered":"The superhero hoverfly: Meeting the &#8220;Batman fly&#8221; in Sweden"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The yellow-haired sun fly (<em>Myathropa florea<\/em>) is a widespread European hoverfly often dubbed the &#8220;Batman fly&#8221; due to a distinct mark on its thorax resembling the iconic superhero logo. Fringed with soft, golden-yellow hairs, this vital pollinator uses specialized vibrating organs called halteres to freeze mid-air or dart effortlessly between sunbeams as it feeds on nectar from ivy and bramble. Its reproductive cycle is just as remarkable. Females lay eggs in stagnant, water-logged tree rot-holes. The aquatic larvae, known as &#8220;rat-tailed maggots,&#8221; breathe underwater using an extraordinarily long, telescopic siphon that functions like a snorkel. If pushed to the surface, these buoyant larvae can actively expel air to dive back down to safety. I crossed paths with this fascinating hoverfly in a lush Swedish meadow. I managed to capture only a single frame before the camera flash startled her into the air. While I\u2019m thrilled to have landed the shot, I\u2019m certainly hoping for a rematch!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The yellow-haired sun fly (Myathropa florea) is a widespread European hoverfly often dubbed the &#8220;Batman fly&#8221; due to a distinct 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