Hoverfly ID

[Lord V]

Small hoverfly feeding on a Euphorbia flower in the garden yesterday. Guessing it's Platycheirus sp ?

As a side note I've noticed many of the Syrphus species hovers in the garden are fairly small this year so far. Wonder if it's linked to a complete absence of aphids so far ?

Brian V.

[Geoff F]

Well I would say Melanstoma for that one. I can't quite see the necessary bits from that angle but I would guess M. scalare male.

We have been discussing the identification of Platycheirus males here Hoverfly for ID Please

But with variation in the colour of the abdominal spots in certain light, Melanstoma and Platycheirus can appear similar.

Do you have any other angles for a more certain ID? Or can you confirm that the abdomen was longer than the wings?

I am starting to see some 'full size' Syrphus now but they are all rather dark.

[Lord V]

Thanks for the ID info Geoff- must admit my first thought was Melanostoma sp but the abdomen patterning seemed more distinct than normal. No I didn't get another angle on it but there are quite a few around in the garden at the moment so will have another go.
Brian v.

[Geoff F]

I think that slightly underneath angle is making the spots appear rather bright. But they are quite long and rounded on the outside corners, just like Melanstoma.

All the yellow spotted Platycheirus, with long spots, which I can think of, tend to have squarish outer corners to their spots.