A couple more for I.D please

Barrowhillbetty · #1 (**permalink**) 07-09-2007, 02:18 PM

First must apologise as my camera isn't too good at small things close up - Hope santa brings me a better one! Heres a few more residents of my garden - pics taken today. Hope they are clear enough for I.D - Thanks

asheleaf · #2 (**permalink**) 07-09-2007, 04:51 PM

bearing in mind i'm hopeless at bees and haven't even begun learning about flies i'll offer a few suggestions to get the ball rolling

first one is a hoverfly

and last two Bombus pascuorum, Carder bee

now wait for the experts,

Ashe

Paul mabbott · #3 (**permalink**) 07-09-2007, 06:41 PM

Without being too depressing - you haven't quite got the best angles for some of these. Nonetheless I'm sure our experts will be able to help you. The two flies (large eyes, short antennae - compare with the bees!) are hoverflies, Syrphidae. The first one might be Episyrphus balteatus because, as far as we can see, it has the double bands on the abdomen. The second is a dronefly Eristalis sp - I think.
And, yes, you have carder bees there .... longer antennae than the flies ...

Keep them coming!

eucera · #4 (**permalink**) 07-09-2007, 08:59 PM

The flies are both Eristalis species (could be a male and a female) Not possible to be sure of the species.

The bees are certainly bumblebees Bombus pascuorum

Barrowhillbetty · #5 (**permalink**) 08-09-2007, 08:32 AM

Thank you very much everyone! Have had so many different types of insects, especially hoverflies and bees in the garden this year and have struggled to tell them apart - Only just getting into the smaller things, know more about birds flowers etc. Lucky to be stuck in an office less hours now (yipee!) and have been spending time in the garden and out walking with my dogs and just noticing more! Thanks again for your help especially as my insect photography skills and my camera are not exactly perfect!