Couple of I.D.'s please

[Dave66]

Hi Guy's

Got a lot of these small hover fly's in the garden so managed to get some photo's. An I.D. would be appreciated. I even tried one in flight, not brilliant but my first attempt at an insect in flight.







Been a beginner I haven't got the foggiest what this one is.



Thank you in advance.

Dave.

[aeshna5]

1/2 is a hoverfly often called a sunfly, Helophilus pendulus
3 looks like Platycheirus albimanus in flight.

[Jason Green]

Afternoon Dave,

I agree with Aesh on the first, and your second could indeed be albimanus - probably difficult to say for sure from this angle. Any others?

Your last is a Fever Fly from the Bibionidae family, and most likely a Bibio sp.

Take care,

Jason

[Dave66]

Hi Jason,

Here's a better shot of the hoverfly that you suspect is albimanus. Hopefully this will be more help.



Thanks

Dave.

[Geoff F]

I'm still trying to identify a Bibio like that. The part brown legs and black spot on the wings are making me think about B. johannis or possibly B. lanigerus.

There are a couple of others but they tend to have more reddish coloured legs.

But as Jason said Bibio sp. is probably the best you are going to get.

[Jason Green]

Originally Posted by Geoff F

I'm still trying to identify a Bibio like that. The part brown legs and black spot on the wings are making me think about B. johannis or possibly B. lanigerus.

Me too - I have a mounted specimen (seems to be the same species) and genital capsule, the whole 'kit and caboodle', but is no good without literature. There is a good RES book, but that seems to be out of print as is the AIDGAP one. A shame.