RECORDS Syrphid (Hover) flies for ID

[JRsbugs]

Hello all,

As we now have Roger on WAB, who is a National recorder for flies in the family Syrphidae and is looking for new records please post any Syrphid pics on this thread.

If you are not certain you have a syrphid, don't worry if you get it wrong. As a useful guide, take a look at these two sites for reference so you have a better idea.

Diptera.info has Diptera experts from around the world who are usually qualified in their particular field. It is run by Paul Beuk who himself is an Entomologist.

Diptera.info - Photo Albums: Syrphidae

There is a list of Hoveflies (syrphid flies) on the UK site with some pics as well as distribution maps and other info.

Hoverfly Recording Scheme - View Forum - The Species

Janet

[JRsbugs]

I wasn't sure if I should place a link to the thread which started this idea off but it's probably a good idea so here it is..

Is this Chrysotoxum cautum or elegans

I have nearly sorted my Syrphids into some sort of order, with at least a genus or possible genus as some are very confusing!

[JRsbugs]

Kicking the ball off with two from last year.

Eupeodes latifasciatus 26th July 2008 on Clematis flammula, hopefully correct and one I haven't had this year that I know of.

Sericomyia silentis (female) 27th October 2008 on Ivy. I have had both male and female this year but last year was the first time I saw it.

[JRsbugs]

I had a female and male Pipiza sp. on 21st and 22nd July 2008.

Not sure if they are identifiable from these pics but I imagine they are the same species. The flower the female was on it a very small Clematis, I have another 3 pics but I doubt they would be of any more help. Both very small flies, male smaller than the female I think.

[JRsbugs]

Another Pipiza female on Geranium on 18th July 2008, one pic only.

Baccha elongata (maybe!), only pic I got and first sighting ever on 20th April 2009.

Cheilosia sp. female, one pic only on 25th April 2009.

Cheilosia pagana male on 17th April 2009, not absolutely sure of this one but I had a male on 13th May 2008 which was confirmed and seemed a little more obvious.

[JRsbugs]

Two males and one female Cheilosia sp. Could be the same species, closest I could get was Cheilosia scutellata but the scutellum may not fit.

First set of 3 pics, a male on 15th April 2009.

[JRsbugs]

3 pics of male Cheilosia on Forget-me-not flowers on 22nd April 2009.

2 pics of female Cheilosia on 23rd April 2009.

[Tormentil]

Here's some shots of Sphaerophoria scripta

(female) Whisby NR, Lincolnshire - 13/08/2009



(3 males) Messingham Sand Quarry - 11/07/2009







You can see all my other Hoverflies at......
Revell Photography & Hoverflies

[ChrisR]

Just a reminder that the minimum information required to make a record is:
* date, location name, grid reference (very important) & observer's real name

[oxycera]

Originally Posted by ChrisR

Just a reminder that the minimum information required to make a record is:
* date, location name, grid reference (very important) & observer's real name

...and species name

[ChrisR]

Originally Posted by oxycera

...and species name

Well, I almost added name to the list but to be accepted as a record the species would have to be obvious anyway so it wouldn't be 100% necessary in this context - the recording scheme organizer would know what it was

[JRsbugs]

Roger already has my details, but yes that is a good reminder to others and I should have included it in the first post.

I think once Roger can verify a species on here he will ask for the rest.

[Tormentil]

Originally Posted by ChrisR

Just a reminder that the minimum information required to make a record is:
* date, location name, grid reference (very important) & observer's real name

Re grid reference; how exact, 4 figure, 6 figure ?? And would lat & long be ok ?

[ChrisR]

Originally Posted by Tormentil

Re grid reference; how exact, 4 figure, 6 figure ?? And would lat & long be ok ?

Not sure about Roger but normally I prefer a 6-figure Landranger-type grid reference (e.g. SU616796) but Lat/Long would be acceptable if you had that already and then I'd just convert it to Landranger In the past I have accepted post-codes (where the observer says they saw the record in their garden) and then used in streetmap.co.uk to convert them.

[oxycera]

Originally Posted by ChrisR

- the recording scheme organizer would know what it was

I just feel that there's a Pandora's box about to be unleased here

[JRsbugs]

I use this site, just put in the postcode and it gives the OS X and OS Y co-ordinates as well as the Landranger. I sent the OS grid figures.

UK Street Map Coordinate Converter

But as someone else said, their postcode covers a large area, however most don't.

[JRsbugs]

Originally Posted by oxycera

I just feel that there's a Pandora's box about to be unleased here

I think Roger will only take records he will himself be able to identify. Unless all we have is presented we don't know if he can or cannot identify or accept them. He doesn't have to trek the country in the rain to do it either

[JRsbugs]

Chrysotoxum bicinctum (female), 2 pics on 5th August 2009 my first sighting. Also have 1 pic from 11th August 2009 on Clematis flammula.

Dasysyrphus albostriatus (male) 1 pic on 5th August 2009.

Dasysyrphus albostriatus (female) 2 pics on 24th August & 9th September 2009. All new to me this year.

[JRsbugs]

I should have said that Roger Morris's email address can be found on the link I placed in my second post. This will be necessary in order to give him your personal details, but that could also be done by PM on here.

[JRsbugs]

Epistrophe eligans.

I have pics of males from 14th April to 22nd April 2009.

Females from 21st April until 7th May 2009. I only have one pic of a female on 9th June 2008 before that.

[JRsbugs]

Didea fasciata male, taken on 5th August 2009. First sighting since August 2007.

Diptera.info - Discussion Forum: Syrphid with red-tinged wings

Two confusing males which I have thought could be Syrphus ribesii but they look a lot like Epistrophe melanostoma too. Taken on 5th and 22nd August 2009.

Episyrphus balteatus, an unusual form on 5th August 2009. Male and female on Lilium on 15th July 2009. They are around at many times of the year including now and I have a lot of pics.

[bonitin]

Truly interesting thread with lots of potential!! Thanks!
So nice to have them all in one thread. This can be very helpful for all of us!

I'm very intrigued by the unusual form of Episyrphus balteatus, it doesn't really look like it, it has a strange body shape too, interesting..

[Jason Green]

Originally Posted by bonitin

I'm very intrigued by the unusual form of Episyrphus balteatus, it doesn't really look like it, it has a strange body shape too, interesting..

To me, it looks like a dehydrated (...a fairly deflated look?) and late-season (...darker colours preserve internal heat) individual.

[JRsbugs]

Thanks bonitin..

There's two pics of Episyrphus balteatus on diptera.info which are described as "intersex", one looks much like my unusual one. It does look a little damaged but is not so dissimlar to this one...

Diptera.info - Photo Albums: Episyrphus balteatus (intersex) (1)

I'm trying to sort out my Eristalis.... I just realised I have another E. interrupta male Some are not as easy as you might think.

Hopefully this thread will be useful to many.

[Geoff F]

Hello Janet,

I have started looking through your images on this thread and so have have considered the first 3 posts of photos.

From my rather limited knowledge of these species I would broadly agree with you so far.

Eupeodes latifasciatus is probably correct providing E. nitens can be ruled out. The yellow bands on your specimen may be a bit on the wavy side like E. nitens but are close to the tergite edges like E. latifasciatus so ideally I would like to see a bit more leg to be sure.

With your first Pipiza female, the yellow spots appear to be rather long and straight sided like P. luteitarsis although the antennae are quite long as P. noctiluca. Once again, more leg is required particularly the front tarsus.

With the Pipiza male, the yellow spots seem shorter and more rounded just like a typical P. noctiluca should be. Your Pipiza on Geranium could also be P. noctiluca.

Your Baccha elongata looks fine to me.

Cheilosia pagana males, with smaller antennae than females, are difficult to separate from C. bergenstammi although the latter should have a black ring on the tibia. So I'm not at all sure on this one.

The Cheilosia sp. female with a short rounded abdomen and part black femora with the remainder of the legs being orange does make me consider C. fraterna. The antennae are pale but are they sufficiently orange for this species?

Just my thoughts so far. I will add a few of my unidentifieds for suggestions.