Ron, you had mentioned the fly might be a hover fly but yet when I read the characteristics, it mentioned that they "hover" over flowers. It was my observation that they never hovered but were usually half off and half on the center part of the flower (Shasta daisy, in this case). In scanning through your list of insects - I think my picture leans more toward syrphid fly than hover fly. Thank you for putting a label in my "bug".

They are three different names for the same group of insects. The term hover flies is used more in England.

I see the hovering as going on mostly away from flowers and liken the behavior to that of dragon flies on patrol. The typical setting is a dark area with a shaft of light cutting through it and the fly hovering in the light. They are surprisingly easy to photograph when hovering.



As far as hovering around flowers goes, bee flies are more likely to do that, some even feeding while in flight.

Ron, in looking at the two additional pictures you posted here - the second fly is most definitely not similar to the one I posted. First one is closer but then, I've not seen them in flight. Excellent capture, btw, whoever got that shot. Thanks, once again.