Hoverflies ID please

diggleken · #1 (**permalink**) 18-05-2009, 04:35 PM

Hello all,
These two Hoverflies were miles apart, but what are they please?
They appear to my ignorant eye to be Melanostoma spp, and they appear to be the same one too.
Sorry not got better shots of abdominal markings.

Cheers
Ken

JRsbugs · #2 (**permalink**) 18-05-2009, 04:46 PM

Hi Ken,

First one is probably Platycheirus albimanus female, second male same species.

Janet

diggleken · #3 (**permalink**) 18-05-2009, 04:53 PM

Thanks loads Janet - theyre not even in my book! I need to invest.........

I tend to just use Michael Chinerys complete (ha, never trust that in the title - they never are, nor easily can be with so many spp ) british insects, which is limiting - any recommendations?
I wasnt tooooo close then, but anyway - such delicate and graceful things though - lovely to watch.
Cheers
Ken

JRsbugs · #4 (**permalink**) 18-05-2009, 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by diggleken

Thanks loads Janet - theyre not even in my book! I need to invest.........

I tend to just use Michael Chinerys complete (ha, never trust that in the title - they never are, nor easily can be with so many spp ) british insects, which is limiting - any recommendations?
I wasnt tooooo close then, but anyway - such delicate and graceful things though - lovely to watch.
Cheers
Ken

I don't use books, if you look at a dipera Gallery such as diptera.info you will find a lot more, look in Syrphidae. Apart from that it's just a matter of picking up clues.