Donal Hickey: These pollinators 'dress up' like bees for their own protection

We have 180 species of hoverfly which play a critical role in pollinating plants and getting rid of waste

Hoverflies mimic bees and wasps to try deter predators

Next time you’re about to swat a fly, think again. They’re important in many ways, playing a vital role in pollination, which enables plants to reproduce, and getting rid of waste, for example.

Most people rightly regard bumblebees as essential for pollination, but other species also play a critical role. Hoverflies, of which we have 180 species, are more abundant as flower-visitors than might be expected, accounting for more than half of such recorded visits.