Pollen covered

This spring has been a strange. Insects, usually plentiful, have been sparse — but not absent.

In a field of dandelions, both hover flies and solitary bees (but, not social bees) flew from flower to flower seeking nectar. It was fairly easy to take pictures of them on the dandelions, but I sought shots of them flying between the flowers. 

A mining bee became covered with pollen as it worked the flowers. 

The pied hover fly is common throughout the Northern Hemisphere. It is a staple of summer flower watching. Yet, this is the first time I can recall seeing one festooned in pollen.