Metallic green hoverfly ?

[Gerel]

Hi,

I spotted this today sitting on a wooden fence rail. My first thought was some kind of greenbottle but looking closer realised it looks more like a hoverfly. The closest I've found would be something like a Cheilosia sp. but I haven't really got a clue.

Length = 7-8mm



Any suggestions welcome.

ETA. Could it be Ferdinandea cuprea ?

Regards

Steve

[peterbolson]

Hi Steve
I think Ferdinandea cuprea is right. Nice photo & lovely fly - one I'd very much like to see.
Peter

[oxycera]

Nice find, the sort of record the national recorder might be interested in.

[JRsbugs]

Steve, there is a rarer one which looks much the same. Ferdinandea ruficornis, not sure exactly what the difference is but I assume it's to do with the rufi (red) cornis (antennae).

Mine is on diptera.info F. cuprea. (blowave)

Diptera.info - Photo Albums: Syrphidae

The Hoverfly recording scheme would be interested whichever it is.

Hoverfly Recording Scheme - View topic - Ferdinandea ruficornis

Hoverfly Recording Scheme - View topic - Ferdinandea cuprea

Janet

[Gerel]

Thanks all,

I agree Peter quite attractive, in a more subtle way than a lot of hovers.

Janet and John, (sorry couldn't resist )

I submitted the photo to the recording scheme website as well as on here. There Roger Morris confirmed the ID and I've sent the details of the record.

F. ruficornis would have been nice especially as it's apparently been reported not far from here, but sadly not to be.

Regards

Steve

[JRsbugs]

Looking at the pics of F. cuprea on the HRS, the antennae are rounded but also reddish.

I think the antennae of F. ruficornis might have a little hook on the end.