Hard Ride Rodeo

I have spent much of the day videoconferencing with friends and family, which is lovely. However, it is still too lovely outside to sit indoors by the computer and Janet and I have spent the rest of the day in the garden. Table tennis  was committed, and I didn't win every game...

Earlier in the day I'd spent my first morning coffee watching a huge red bottomed bumble bee plough through the Wisteria over the front porch. It is remarkable how long their proboscis can extend, and I have used yet another of my extras to show him off. I was happy with this until...

I was relaxing with a post-tennis cup of tea when these two flew past, locked at the, um, waist. They landed on a blade of grass... when I say landed, she grabbed it in passing then held on like grim death, because he wasn't letting go either! 

I may have taken sufficient photographs in lurid detail to be awarded entry into the porn photographers guild (Syrphidae section), and after several minutes (I know, right?) the act continued but the blade of grass snapped under their exertions! They flew off, haphazardly, still in the groove...um.

I'm afraid I don't know what they were; some kind of hoverfly? Not bees of course. I can't quite tell if the black female has wings or has perhaps shed them in the mating. I can imagine post mating she might burrow into the soil - except they both flew off... hmm...

[addendum: after reviewing the other shots, she does keep her wings... he uses them for additional purchase!]