A hoverfly bee mimic I think for ID if poss pls

[Dillybythesea]

This in the garden this morning - quite loud buzzing - busy in the thyme... I've tried looked at bee mimics and it doesn't look quite right for Criorhina berberina or Criorhina ranunculi, does it? Any help much appreciated!

[Matt Smith]

Meredon equestris

[Dillybythesea]

Thanks Matt! I didn't come across that name in my surfing. Are they pretty variable, please? This one (again today) seems much hairier and more colourful - but wld still be Meredon equestris?

[Matt Smith]

Meredon comes in a variety of colour forms.

[Geoff F]

The first check with these larger hoverfly bee mimics is to look at the wing veins. If it has that deep loop in the 'middle vein' like your specimen, it must belong to the Eristalini family.

If it doesn't have that vein, look elsewhere, and Criorhina or Volucella would be good starting points.

As your specimen clearly shows this vein loop the real decision will be between Merodon equestris (which can have variable colouration) and Eristalis intricarius (which also comes in several recognised colour forms).

E. intricarius has a slight dark wing smudge but this can be difficult to see. The surest factor is that M. equestris has all dark legs while E. intricarius has a patch of yellow on the hind leg.

If you can't see that leg, M. equestris usually has a paler coloured first thoracic band; but that is really just a starting guide and isn't sufficient for a firm ID.

[Dillybythesea]

Thanks Matt. And thanks Geoff. It's really good to get some lovely clear guidelines like that (now copied and pasted into my notebook for future ref!) Very kind! ATB, Dill