Hoverfly for ID please

peterbolson · #1 (**permalink**) 03-06-2009, 05:13 PM

Saw this very briefly in the garden. I think it could be a female Merodon equestris ( loop in vein R4+5, tibia all black, scutellum black ) rather than eristalis intricarius which has silmilar wing venation, but I'm not sure about the orange on the tarsus. I haven't seen one before so I'd be grateful for an expert opinion.

Dogghound · #2 (**permalink**) 03-06-2009, 05:20 PM

Yes Merodon equestris var. validus

peterbolson · #3 (**permalink**) 03-06-2009, 07:37 PM

Thanks Dogghound.

peterbolson · #4 (**permalink**) 04-06-2009, 09:54 AM

I've now had this one fly into our conservatory. Is it the equestris variation ?

Geoff F · #5 (**permalink**) 04-06-2009, 03:51 PM

Can't think of anything else which fits. The facial hair is quite yellow but they are variable and often don't fall into exact categories.

Dogghound · #6 (**permalink**) 04-06-2009, 04:26 PM

Yes its Merodon equestris var. bulborum

peterbolson · #7 (**permalink**) 04-06-2009, 05:23 PM

I'm a bit confused

Is bulborum a form of Merodon equestris var. equestris ?

Dogghound · #8 (**permalink**) 05-06-2009, 05:54 PM

No its a different form to var equestris.

Merodon equestris var. bulborum

Merodon equestris var. equestris

Are the same species just different colour forms or varieties.

Is that what you meant?