As I sat reading on the garden bench the other day, occasionally watching the birds and bugs around me, this hoverfly landed on a nearby hydrangea. It periodically buzzed away and came right back again, to the exact same spot. Google tells me it's a Batman hoverfly, Myathropa florea. It has that name because there's a dark marking on the back of its torso that looks like the Batman logo. (You can't see it too clearly in my photo but it's clearer here.)
And now I'm wondering what this fly was called before Batman rose to prominence in the 1940s. Surely it had a name before that.
Anyway, I watched this little creature go through an elaborate grooming ritual, first rubbing its forelegs together, and then stroking its back legs over its back and across its wings.
And now I'm wondering what this fly was called before Batman rose to prominence in the 1940s. Surely it had a name before that.
Anyway, I watched this little creature go through an elaborate grooming ritual, first rubbing its forelegs together, and then stroking its back legs over its back and across its wings.
It was pretty fascinating. We've all seen flies do this grooming, I'm sure, but this fly was large enough that I could really see it clearly. Apparently this action removes pollen, dirt and microbes that might interfere with its finely tuned flight capabilities. There's a whole blog post about it here; more than I needed to know, but interesting in its detail. (Here's a shorter version of the same information.)
I finished going through all my newly acquired slides yesterday. I'd say of the 1200 or so that I bought, ten to 15 are what I'd call really good photos with potential -- pictures that made me go, "Wow!" About 550 are mildly interesting and worth a second look. The rest are useless. I'm not disappointed with this ratio; in fact it's what I'd expect from a mass of unsorted slides. Now, the question is, what do I do with all the ones I don't want? I hate to just throw them out, but they really are photographically insignificant, I think. Maybe someone could make a lampshade out of them. I suppose I could put them on eBay as craft supplies!
I also walked down to Camden Market to talk to the dealer about the rest of his slides, but his booth was closed. I'll catch up with him again in a couple of days. I got a nice walk in, at least, though the wind was blowing and there was a lot of dust and pollen in the air, enough to give me sneezing fits.
Once again I am working my way through New Yorker magazines. I am going to conquer this stack if it kills me!
I am impressed how quickly you got through the 1,200 slides!! It would take me weeks, I guess.
ReplyDeleteA lot of dust and pollen in the air here, too; parked cars are sprinkled yellow, and so are my windows. No use in cleaning them right now.
I can tell within a second whether a slide is worth a closer look. It took me a couple of days to go through them all, and now I'll reassess the ones I set aside.
DeleteI shall now look more closely at hoverflies - thank you.
ReplyDeleteThey are fascinating! And there are lots of species, too.
DeleteGreat photos of the Batman hoverfly. This is actually how Batman got his name. He was named for the hoverfly. (Or maybe not.)
ReplyDeleteHa! Well, in a way, that would make more sense!
DeleteOh yes - that is what retirement is all about - watching flies for hours on end and imagining that they are superheroes. For a change why not watch earthworms? I am looking forward to seeing the "Wow!" slide images.
ReplyDeleteEarthworms don't have much superhero potential, though they should as they are very ecologically beneficial!
DeleteYou certainly have assessed the slides quickly.
ReplyDeleteWatching little organisms in the sun is a very pleasant way to spend time.
I can power through the slides pretty fast!
DeleteI'd put the slides on freecycle! You never know who's been looking for those little frames forever.
ReplyDeleteI expect Batman H went by his Latin name before finding his superhero and coming up to modern times.
Yeah, that's a good option!
DeleteCan't wait to see the newest glimpses into other people's lives!
ReplyDeleteThe new slide-converting attachment for my camera is supposed to arrive by May 8, so it will be a little more than a week before I post them!
DeleteWatching flies groom is the definition of retirement! Hah!
ReplyDeleteAlthough I have long since scanned all the slides in my possession, I still keep them. They take up very little room in my house and I can't bear to toss them in the trash or consign them to being made into craft projects. Likely they will end up in the landfill at the hands of my descendants someday.
I would never discard slides that are worthwhile photos. But the bad pictures I have no qualms about throwing out.
DeleteJust think, all the things you'll learn during your retirement with more time to observe and research! I still say find another slide dealer you didn't buy those from and try to sell them. I suppose Ebay or FB marketplace might be possible too. Or donate them to a craft or art center.
ReplyDeleteI honestly wouldn't feel comfortable selling them for any purpose other than crafting. Anyone who bought them for the photos would be rightfully upset.
DeleteWho knew this about flies? Not me. It reminded me of a cat grooming itself. I guess I never thought flies live long enough to groom, and the fact that they love dog shit so much.
ReplyDeleteI think that's exactly WHY they groom -- because they live in such filthy environments. (Although hoverflies are attracted to flowers, not dog shit!)
DeleteYou'll have to let your old coworkers know you are enjoying retirement - watching hoverflies groom! ;)
ReplyDeleteIt will be interesting to see the slides you saved...
To be honest, I would have watched them even before I retired, but now I have more time to do so!
DeleteI think it's wonderful that you have time to watch a fly groom. Things like these are the small things that make our worlds bigger.
ReplyDeleteThat's a great way to put it.
DeleteYour struggle to get through the New Yorker magazines reminds me of the same thing I am finding with The Economist and Foreign Policy magazines. I think my brain begins to shut down after a while and I find I need to move on to some other task for relief. Of course, it could just be all the grim news related to the economy and foreign policy that makes me want to eventually turn away.
ReplyDeleteThe Economist is like The New Yorker in that it's weekly, and a weekly magazine is hard to keep up with!
DeleteGood idea- to advertise extra slide as craft supplies. It actually is a thing, depending on the vintage of the slides. .
ReplyDeleteThat fly is so cute- I love it markings and fuzzy little self. Hover flies are talented!
I think the vintage of these slides would qualify them, but maybe not the photographic quality!
DeleteYou've reminded me of all the slides I've thrown away over the years. When I scanned all the good ones, I tossed all the bad ones of which there were so many. I hate to think about all the film that I used to waste before digital photography.
ReplyDeleteI know, it's amazing to think how much film cost, and any mistakes were basically financial losses.
DeleteI had to google lampshades made of slides and VERY VERY COOL!!! I think YOU should make one. It would be very on brand! Here's an example: https://wonderandmake.com/2013/01/diy-slide-film-lamp-shade/
ReplyDeleteThey ARE cool, though I had a weird impulse to order one and dismantle it for the slides. LOL! (They're too expensive for that.)
DeleteNow we really know that you are retired, you sit and watch the bath time of a hoverfly. I spent a good ten minutes watching a Bluetit eating all the little flies it could from our apple tree the other day. It really does beat having a timetable doesn't it. :-)
ReplyDeleteIt does! I would much rather watch the birds and bugs!
DeleteI'm not very familiar with hoverflies; I've probably assumed they were bees.
ReplyDeleteThey literally hover when they're flying -- they can move forward, and quite rapidly, but a lot of the time they just hang in the air.
DeleteKeep buying those slides! You could make curtains! All joking aside, picture collecting is cheap entertainment!
ReplyDeleteHa! Curtains are a WILD idea!
DeleteWe have hoverflies, but I've never heard of a batman hoverfly. Thanks for the link... it really does look like the logo on its back! Nature is wonderful!
ReplyDeleteIsn't it?! Pretty amazing. I wonder who first made the connection between the fly and the Batman logo.
DeleteGrooming activities with any species is interesting if you can see it. I get to watch jack rabbits groom.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I like seeing the foxes groom on my garden cam videos.
DeleteI've never heard of hoverflies.
ReplyDeleteIt is amazing how many different flies and bees exist. I am sure I confuse the two. I've noticed a few flowering bushes are filled with what looks like bumblebees. They also have a buzzing noise when I walk by.
There are lots of hoverfly species, at least here, and lots of different kinds of bees, too. And there are also wasps and hornets that look like hoverflies and bees. It's all very confusing!
DeleteAm I the only person who knows a batman is, or was, like a valet who looks after army officers? Great photos of batman hoverfly.
ReplyDeleteMerriam-Webster defines a batman as "an orderly of a British military officer." I did not know that! It's not a word we use in America, as far as I know. I've never heard it here either, though I'm also never around military types.
DeleteThat's a lot of slides to go through so quickly. You seem to be enjoying your time. No boredom?
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie
None at all! Who has time to be bored?!
Delete