[ID] Garden Insects Please!

[Jason Green]

Hi all!

Wow. What a productive morning in the garden...

Some IDs please!!

6/5/09

1. An anthomyiidae?
...Any idea which species? Three angles included.

6/5/09

2. Tiny fly...
...is it one of the Swarming flies?

6/5/09

3. Hoverfly...
...it looks like an Eristalis/Epistrophe-thing, but 'in the field' it appeared smaller

6/5/09

4. Big Ichneumon wasp
...no doubt one I should know!

...appreciated as usual!

Take care,

Jason

[squishy]

the hover fly doesn't look like Eristalis to me, maybe Epistrophe

[JRsbugs]

Hi Jason,

#1 looks like Anthomyiidae, Leucophora sp. I think which apparently are parasitic to some bees. I got a pic of one too!

#2 Chloropidae, couldn't say which species.

#3 Epistrophe eligans.

Janet

[Jason Green]

Thanks Adam and Janet!

[Geoff F]

So that leaves the Ichneumon for some brave (or fooloish) soul to attempt!

OK then, based on the size and general appearance, I will start the bidding with a Pimpla species. Probably not P. hypochondriaca but a close relative.

[Jason Green]

Thanks Geoff - that's great! Definately the biggest ichneumon I've ever seen. I believe I saw two connected, mating in-flight about 30mins prior - together they must have been c2ins!!

[Dogghound]

I think the Ichneumon is from the Ichneumoninae sub-family. Not sure on exact species, but I think those hind white tarsi are the key they look very distinctive.

[Jason Green]

Thanks Dan, I thought that too

[Laurence Clemons]

2 is an agromyzid fly. Liriomyza sp.

[Jason Green]

Thanks Laurence, that's a family I didn't know about...