Hoverfly ID Please

[Monkster]

I went through my books for an id for this hoverfly and it looks to the untrained eye like a Scaeva pyrastri but then it also says that the S. selenitica is very similar.
So.....are either of these correct?
Thanks
Suzanne

[oxycera]

Looks more like Metasyrphus luniger to me - but I've been wrong before.

[Monkster]

Thanks Oxycera.
I am much more inclined to take your word for it, mine was a bit of a stab in the dark I'm afraid.
They look so similar to me, is there something there that differentiates one from the other to make it easier for future id's?
Thanks again.
Suzanne

[oxycera]

I'm not 100% certain of the identity of your fly, given the angle of the shot etc.
Comparing images of Scaeva and Metasyrphus (Eupeodes) luniger from the internet should be sufficient to indicate differences (that's if you can rely on the identification being correct - by no means always the case). Scaeva is a smarter looking fly, a bit bigger with paler spots that are slightly different in shape. The head, at least to my eyes, seems to fit on the thorax more like a helmet (ok, I agree, that's no help at all!).
At the end of the day there's no substitute for acquiring a copy of 'Stubbs & Falk', catching a few specimens, using a good hand-lens (microscope ideally) and keying them out, even if it means dispatching a few.
Hope that helps.

John

[Monkster]

Thanks John
I've just been looking through the internet for Metasyrphus luniger and it does fit with the photos I have, so I think we have success there!
I find it difficult to even know where to look for them when I don't have a specific name to go on other than 'hoverfly' so to be able to put a name to this type at least will be very helpful to me.
Thanks for the help.
Suzanne

[oxycera]

Well, if you stick a few on here you're bound to get some guidance.

[Monkster]

Thanks John

Here's another one that looks very similar to the first one but a clearer shot this time.
Would this be a Metasyrphus luniger too?



Thanks
Suzanne

[oxycera]

This one looks like Metasyrphus corallae. Confusin', in'it!

[Monkster]

Yep!
I can see that identifying hoverflies is going to be a lot trickier than I had once thought.
Thank goodness you're here, that's all I can say!!
Suzanne