Marmalade Fly

riggy · #1 (**permalink**) 29-07-2009, 07:07 AM

I believe this is Episyrphus balteatus - Marmalade Fly can someone please confirm. It looks like a photo brownangus ID'd for me a while back.

Looking at some old threads I think it may be male due to the eyes not looking look sunglasses.

Cheers

Paul

Dogghound · #2 (**permalink**) 29-07-2009, 07:42 AM

Yes a Male Episyrphus balteatus

riggy · #3 (**permalink**) 29-07-2009, 07:45 AM

Cheers

Spent a while last night going through old threads to try and get ID right and found the info about flies eyes.

Thanks again.

Paul

wild sam · #4 (**permalink**) 29-07-2009, 08:13 AM

is this a marmalade fly if so is it male or female?

Dogghound · #5 (**permalink**) 29-07-2009, 09:54 AM

No its Helophilus pendulus (a female)

Geoff F · #6 (**permalink**) 29-07-2009, 06:21 PM

As a general rule, if it is yellow and black and has stripes running lengthways along the thorax think Helophilus first. Also look for a deep dip in a vein about the middle of the wing and towards the outer tip. All members of the Eristalini family have this, including the common Eristalis species which are sometimes refered to as Drone Flies.

The complicated bit of Helophilus identification is seperating H. pendulus and H. trivittatus. Also, some Helophilus specimens can have a bit of bluish grey colouration and there are a few related species which also have longitudinal stripes but I wouldn't worry too much about them unless you can definitely rule out H. pendulus.