Data set of 1,275 images capturing interactions between flies and blooming flowers

The dataset presented is a collection of 1,275 images capturing interactions between flies and blooming flowers. The images were sourced from internet repositories through searches conducted between August 2016 and August 2020, using the Google Chrome v. 33.x web browser. Internet searches focused on Google Images and three major social media platforms: Flickr, Instagram, and agefotostock. Photographs were taken by photographers worldwide and uploaded to these platforms, forming the basis of the dataset. The data encompasses various taxonomic and ecological information for both the flies and the flowers depicted in the images. For each image, detailed taxonomic information was recorded for the flies, including their suborders (Nematocera and Brachycera, grouped as Higher/Lesser), Family (wherever possible, distinguishing between Syrphidae and non-Syrphidae), and Genus and species (if available). Further characterization of the flies included recording their sex (identified based on morphology), feeding status (identified by visible proboscis extension into the flower), and the presence or absence of pollen particles on their bodies. Similarly, for each image, taxonomic information was collected for the flowers, including their Family and Genus and species (when identifiable). Flowers were categorized by petal color, which was grouped into four main categories based on the visible spectrum wavelength: purple to blue (ranging from 380-520 nm), green to yellow (ranging from 520-590 nm), orange to red (ranging from 590-740 nm), and white. Additionally, flowers were classified based on their shape, with four main categories: elongate cluster, round cluster, composite-shaped, or simple-shaped. To complement the taxonomic and morphological information, the dataset includes additional data for each image, such as web links to the original sources, geographic locations where the images were captured, and the date of image acquisition. This dataset offers a valuable resource for studying fly-flower interactions on a broad scale, using photographs contributed by photographers from around the world.