2 Hoverflies for id

coopder · #1 (**permalink**) 03-09-2009, 08:03 PM

Hi all,

Am I right in thinking that this is a Syrphus sp. possibly S. ribesii or S. vitripennis.

I've got no idea about this one.

I have been thinking about buying the British hoverflies book by A. Stubbs, I'm just wondering whether as a beginner it would be difficult to use. Also, is the book just an identification guide or does it also contain infomation on the behaviour and lifecycle of hoverflies.

Thanks ,
Daniel

Jason Green · #2 (**permalink**) 03-09-2009, 08:11 PM

Evening Daniel,

#1: Not sure which it is - I'll leave it as Syrphus sp. for now, though I suspect the front leg colour is an important feature.

#2: Most likely a Lunar Hoverfly, Eupeodes corollae.

Take care,

Jason

JRsbugs · #3 (**permalink**) 03-09-2009, 08:12 PM

Hi Daniel,

The first is difficult to say, you really need to see more detail of the legs. There are 3 very similar, S. ribesii, S. vitripennis, and S. torvus which has hairs on the eyes (others may too but have less). Males of S. vitripennis are indistinguishable from S. rectus but yours is a female.

The second one is a female Eupeodes luniger, the difference between it and E. corollae is the yellow marks don't reach the sides.

Janet

JRsbugs · #4 (**permalink**) 03-09-2009, 08:14 PM

It's the hind legs which are most important, but the front femora can be useful to separate female S. vitripennis.

JonSadler · #5 (**permalink**) 03-09-2009, 08:18 PM

I' certainly buy the Stubbs book it is fantastic - if all keys were this good identifying insects would be a lot easier. It has some brilliant plates by Stephen Falk and a lot of other information. I cannot praise it enough.

Regards
Jon

Geoff F · #6 (**permalink**) 04-09-2009, 06:04 PM

Yes, it isn't cheap though. But I suppose some people would spend more than this on a celebrity cookbook.

The only trouble, I find, with identification keys is getting sufficient photo angles to show all the necessary parts.