Hoverflies and Orchids

Here are a few photos of hoverflies on an orchid flower. I used manual focusing for these photos which is a bit of a challenge.

Hoverflies

Hoverflies belong to the insect family Syrphidae.

The orchid in the photo is species called "sanggumay" and is one of Mama Evie's favorite orchids in her garden in Sta. Rosa, Nueva Ecija.

At first glance, I thought they were bees. Hoverflies would constantly move in and around the flower.

Adjusting shutter speed

By using a faster shutter speed and shooting on a clear morning, I was able to capture the following photos. I think the brightly colored insects and the pink petals of the orchid flower make for an interesting contrast.

A dainty hoverfly on an orchid petal.

These two hoverflies seem to work in tandem.

Two hoverflies create a "reflection."

The petal of the orchid is an ideal landing station for hoverflies.