Hoverfly for ID

PeterD · #1 (**permalink**) 11-05-2010, 11:27 AM

When I first looked at this hoverfly I immediately thought Melanostoma scalare but then realised that there were a couple of features that did not fit - dark legs and intense broad black marking on the abdomen.

Could this be Neoascia podagrica?

Can any one help please?

dmclean2 · #2 (**permalink**) 11-05-2010, 03:26 PM

Hi Peter,
I have been having a look in my reference books and the wing veination denotes a hover fly in that it has a false margin to the edge of the wing and the sub-apical cell is closed and is triangular in shape but then this is variable in shape, the abdomen in N.podagrica is more waisted than in your pic , try Melanostoma scalare again, that is the nearest that I can get to it but wait for other comments as well
all the best
Duncan

JRsbugs · #3 (**permalink**) 11-05-2010, 03:39 PM

Not sure, but I think it's a Platycheirus sp. female.

Janet

PeterD · #4 (**permalink**) 11-05-2010, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dmclean2

Hi Peter,
I have been having a look in my reference books and the wing veination denotes a hover fly in that it has a false margin to the edge of the wing and the sub-apical cell is closed and is triangular in shape but then this is variable in shape, the abdomen in N.podagrica is more waisted than in your pic , try Melanostoma scalare again, that is the nearest that I can get to it but wait for other comments as well
all the best
Duncan

Thank you Duncan. I have looked at more examples of Neoascia podagrica and have to agree with you.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JRsbugs

Not sure, but I think it's a Platycheirus sp. female.

Janet

Thanks Janet. Again I have looked at several examples of Platycheirus sp and feel that this fits more closely.

Thank you both for your help and suggestions