Dasysyrphus hoverfly

[peterbolson]

Found today along woodland edge. WL 9mm.
I think it is D.venustus but it's not one I've seen before so I'd be grateful for confirmation ( or otherwise of course ). Thanks.

[JRsbugs]

Looks good to me Peter.

I got my first last year but it was flying off, this year I was lucky to get better shots of a female. They don't seem to be common around gardens.

Janet

[peterbolson]

Many thanks for the confirmation Janet. Another one I can tick off
Peter

[Geoff F]

Yes the black stigma clearly point to Dasysyrphus and I agree that D. venustus looks the most likely.

The ends of those yellow bars extend to the abdomen margin but the antennae aren't black like D. friuliensis; which is possible in the north, although an uncommon species.

Dasysyrphus seem to be having a good year. In woodland, I have seen both D. albostriatus and D. venustus recently.

[Roger Morris]

Hello Peter

This is probably D. venustus but you need to check the face - if it is fully yellow then it may be D. hilaris.

We have a problem with D. venustus, however. There has been some work in Germany that has split it into goodness knows how many species - I know that there are at least two in the UK from going through my collection, but there may be more. The problem is that the characters need a specimen and they have yet to be published.

So, check the face, and we can put it down as D. venustus, but at some stage if no speciment it will get relegated to D. venustus agg.

Regards

Roger

[peterbolson]

Hello Roger
The facial knob is black so I'll put it down as D.venustus for the moment.
Many thanks
Peter