What is this insect please ?

[emeritus]

There are lots of what appear to be black flies in the countryside around here at the moment they have a long protusion underneath and hover usually close to Hedgerows. Cant seem to be able to identify them. They are slightly smaller than a Housefly. Can anyone help please ?

[Count-A-Strong]

St Marks flies

[Chaffinch]

Hoverfly ? great for polinating plants and crops

[Count-A-Strong]

http://www.uksafari.com/stmarksfly.htm

[emeritus]

Thats the one Count, Excellent . I have to say its a new one on me. Thank you very much.

[emeritus]

Thank you also Chaffinch they are definately St Marks Flies

[Count-A-Strong]

I only noticed them appear around here about 3 years ago. I came away from work a few nights ago and drove through huge swarms of them it was like driving thru rain!

[welshlibranr]

I live on the coast, and we had swarms of these on the 26th April, the seafront was just full of them!........every white wall along there was covered!................

[boxtops]

I remember the ladybird swarms many years ago, when they got here to the coast and could go now further, there were thousands of them.

[welshlibranr]

I remember the ladybirds too Boxtops, they were everywhere, and they could give a nasty bite too!.........