A tricky Hoverfly for ID

[tigger]

This beautiful hoverfly was feeding on some tiny weeds in my garden. It was probably no more than about 9mm in length but a stunning colour on it's back. The picture doesn't really do it justice, but I'm hoping someone will recognise it.



Thanks. Jane

[Geoff F]

. . . and I also have a stack of similar photos to work my way through soon.

Give us a clue, were the abdominal markings yellow or silvery grey? I am finding a lot of Melanstoma and a few Platycheirus species around at the moment.

Males, which have widened front tarsi usually fall into the Platycheirus category while thin rounded tarsi are more likely to be Melanstoma. Females, on the other hand are a bit more complicated.

If yellow spots; the longish abdomen is pointing me towards Melanstoma, probably M. scalare but, and a big BUT here, some Platycheirus can be very similar. Silvery grey is probably Platycheirus.

I don't suppose you know whether the abdominal spots looked squarish or triangular. Another big clue there.

Failing all else, I would suspect Melanstoma sp. or Platycheirus sp. might possibly be as far as we can go with this image.

[JRsbugs]

I would say it's a Platycherius sp., possibly P. albimanus as I think that is more common but as Geoff says there's not enough to be sure. I think it's only the males which have swollen legs above the tarsi, this is a female.

Melanostoma scalare has white triangular dust spots between the eyes, there is a melanic form of Melanostoma mellinum with no spots on the abdomen but they also have small dust spots at the side of the eyes.

Janet

[tigger]

Wow, thanks both of you. Unfortunately I don't have any other information. It was one of those photographs where you take it, look up and it's gone!

Very interesting though. Many thanks for your help.

Jane