Hoverfly(?) i.d. needed please

[davemangham]

Can anyone help with an i.d. on this please.

I believe it may be a Hoverfly/Drone fly. Very interested in the Sweet-peas in my garden.



Thanks

Dave

[tameblackbirds]

I am getting these in my garden and thought they were some kind of masonry bee. So will be interested to find id too

[davemangham]

Originally Posted by tameblackbirds

I am getting these in my garden and thought they were some kind of masonry bee. So will be interested to find id too

Closer investigation leads me to believe it is a Leaf-cutter Bee, genus Megachile, but I've no idea what sp.

Dave

[Geoff F]

Agree with it being a member of the bee family, Dave, (or solitary wasp) as part of the ocelli is just visible on the head.

Megachile centuncularis is possible and the orange coloured hairs under the abdomen do look correct (possibly) but there are a few other possibilities to consider as well. Andrena sp.; Halictus sp.; Lasioglossum sp. just for starters.

Do you have any other photos which show the head in better detail?

[davemangham]

Originally Posted by Geoff F

Do you have any other photos which show the head in better detail?

Geoff,

Don't know whether this will be any help?

I've put more emphasis on brightening the shadows so that the ocelli are clearer, but it's about the best I can do!




Dave

[Jason Green]

Hi Dave,

I'm pretty sure it's a Megachile sp., though I'm not experienced enough to go further. Maybe re-post with Bee in the title as we have members specialising in bees who may not necessarily look at Hoverfly posts.

[davemangham]

Thanks Jason. I'll give it a try.

[JRsbugs]

It is a Megachile sp., I doubt if you will get it to species level as it is too worn and they can be difficult to tell apart. M. willughbiella is a possibility also.

Janet

[davemangham]

Thanks Janet,

I appreciate the difficulties in i.d'ing to sp. level, and I don't have photos showing the 'naughty bits' in close-up.

Megachile sp. it is then!

Thanks to all who put in the effort to respond.