Habebty
Well-Known Member
How come I got invaded by hoverflies whilst going along the Black Deep today, seems a bit far offshore for them? Now tucked up in Dover enjoying the last visit to the old Marina, unless I stop on the way back of course 
Hoverflies!
- Thread starter Habebty
- Start date
matthewriches
Well-Known Member
They get everywhere. And daddy long legs. Horrible jeffers!
johnalison
Well-Known Member
That would be nothing to the Great Hoverfly Invasion in the mid '70s. I can't post a photo because my laptop is away, but the whole East Coast for miles had these beasties blowing in from the East for several days. My boat was covered with them while we were at Orford and they even showed up in a snap of the garden at the Jolly Sailor across the sky. I tried to count them but gave up after the first billion. The following year we had a similar invasion of ladybirds, but not as dense.
Hydrozoan
Well-Known Member
About a decade ago we had an invasion of them from the Naze whilst we were a mile or so offshore. They were head to tail along the guard wires, layers deep on the yellow MOB and horseshoe, and seeking to enter all exposed bodily orifices. In the middle of it we spotted a drifting beach canoe - no sign of a person but we called the CG of course, and they asked us to get it aboard and await an inshore rescue craft which they sent out to collect it. Of course the beach canoe was bright yellow …
Habebty
Well-Known Member
Do the bloody things live at sea! Still got them off Newhaven!! Should I be looking for a nest!! On board. Better shine my torch up the boom tonight
johnalison
Well-Known Member
Since they are completely harmless, why not treat yourself to a glass and stop worrying?
Habebty
Well-Known Member
Doing exactly that now!
Habebty
Well-Known Member
Doing exactly that now!
pvb
Well-Known Member
Doing exactly that now!
It seems to be working...
LittleSister
Well-Known Member
No, they can't survive at sea, which is why if they're blown offshore they find a vessel and stick with it, often for hundreds of miles. If it's long enough before they find somewhere better to hop off to, they stick with the vessel until the end of the season, and leave a scent marker so the next year's hoverflies recognise it as good 'home turf'.
Hydrozoan
Well-Known Member
How time flies [sic]! My ‘about a decade ago’ was in fact 2004 - I recall subsequently reading this BBC report: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/essex/3529310.stm and remarking that Mr May of the Essex Wildlife Trust was clearly incorrect in his observation that "Some are going out to sea but after a while they get tired and fly back”, because most of them cadged a lift with us.
