Various Ident's Required

Coinneach · #1 (**permalink**) 18-08-2008, 06:45 PM

Hi,
I could use some help in identifying these insects.
I've been given a clue via a photography forum but would like some expert confirmation.
Thanks in advance

Kenny

Spider 1?

Spider 2?

Spider 3?

Harvestman?

Hoverfly? on Rudbeckia

Flesh Fly?

Buff Tailed Bee?

Hoverfly?

Dogghound · #2 (**permalink**) 18-08-2008, 06:53 PM

The first hoverfly is Syrphus ribesii
Last hoverfly is Episyrphus balteatus
The bumblebee is a male looks like Bombus lucorum

eucera · #3 (**permalink**) 18-08-2008, 07:17 PM

Bumblebee is a male of the B. lucorum complex as Dogghound suggest. The 3 species in this complex are currently inseparable except by looking at the queens... or gene sequences!

Jason Green · #4 (**permalink**) 18-08-2008, 07:29 PM

I can't really help with Spidey, maybe a Garden Orb-weaver; can't tell really without the upper side of the abdomen. Sorry

Yes, flesh-fly Sarcophaga carnaria I believe, though I've heard genetalia examination is required

As for the Harvestman I'll offer up Mitopus morio or rilaena triangularis

Geoff F · #5 (**permalink**) 18-08-2008, 08:27 PM

Another alternative for the Harvestman is Phalangium opilio. The markings look about right although your image is a bit on the dark side. But they do vary quite a lot in colour.

Spiders 1 & 3 look slightly like an Araneus to me but they also vary a lot and from that angle I definitely wouldn't put any money on it.

naturegirl · #6 (**permalink**) 19-08-2008, 01:18 AM

Spider is definitely an Araneus!

I have a Jet black specimen of this which builds a web over my shed doorway every night.

It too has 2 white dots on the underside of the abdomen!

Naturegirl

Pudding4brains · #7 (**permalink**) 19-08-2008, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jason Green

As for the Harvestman I'll offer up Mitopus morio or rilaena triangularis

But it is a female Phalangium opilio

I find these three very hard to separate. Young Rilaena are easy, as their ocularium is much bigger compared to body size, but with the adults I sometimes need too look long and hard to make sure it isn't Phalangium - they hardly ever have this much contrast in the "sadle" though.

Females P. opilio and M. morio are even harder for me as I've never found M. morio myself yet, but fortunately this image just shows enough frontal detail to recognize the two tiny spikes between the palps just under the rim at the front of the animal which are typical for P. opilio only.

Cheers, Arp

P.S. Ahw: Totally overlooked Geoff's remark - so yes - he's right

Geoff F · #8 (**permalink**) 19-08-2008, 12:10 PM

I was thinking Araneus diadematus (Garden Spider) but I really am pushing my luck now.

Going by the general shape and type of web, I would consider spider 2 might be part of the Tetragnathidae tribe. But nothing immediately springs to mind. I've got to check out some spiders later so unless one of the spider experts comes along, I will add it to my list.

Geoff F · #9 (**permalink**) 19-08-2008, 08:22 PM

Not having much luck with spider No. 2; or most of my images either. The best I can suggest is Metellina merianae but I'm not very confident. Did you use flash? If the colour is a bit 'washed out' I would be happier with this possibility. It would raise my confidence to 10%.

Either way it is an interesting photo.

Coinneach · #10 (**permalink**) 21-08-2008, 07:59 AM

Thanks for your help folks,
I should probaby own up to the fact that all three spiders are the same.
No 2 was re-housed before I had to destroy its home.
I was cleaning up at work and spotted this guy as a suitable subject for a pic.
I grabbed my gear at lunch time and took a couple of shots then rehoused it for shot two.
If I hadn't done so it would have been pressure washed out of existance.