Two flies - snipe fly and hoverfly?

[jeremiah]

Are these a snipe fly and hoverfly respectively? Taken in the rain, maybe why they kept still. Both at Wisley.

[Geoff F]

Not much to go on from those small indistinct specimens.

I would guess Myathropa florae for the hoverfly. But that is 90% guess so I wouldn't guarantee it.

[squishy]

I would hesitantly say that I don't thing it is a snipe fly. It looks more like a hoverfly to me,

[Jason Green]

Evening Jeremiah,

The first is a Rhagionidae member, but to go to Genus you need a closer shot of the wings to examine venation. The other as you say is a Hoverfly, and from the Eristalini sub. and I've considered E. horticola on account of the middle leg colour and possible (or should I say extremely vague, even?) wing patterning - but I won't put any certainty behind it as it isn't close enough to properly examine, it doesn't seem yellowy enough.

Take care,

Jason

[jeremiah]

Thank you for the ideas. I can't see much colour on the hoverfly unless I turn my screen brightness right up - I suppose the moral of the story is, not much point taking pictures of soggy insects on a gloomy, rainy day.

[Matt Smith]

First one is Chrysopilus cristatus.

[jeremiah]

Originally Posted by Matt Smith

First one is Chrysopilus cristatus.

It does look like it, thanks!

Are the two spots near the thorax wing spots or balancing organs showing through the wings? I've looked at several (very good) images but still can't tell.

[Matt Smith]

Originally Posted by jeremiah

Are the two spots near the thorax wing spots or balancing organs showing through the wings? I've looked at several (very good) images but still can't tell.

The two small black "spots" near to the thorax are indeed the halteres.