Pretty Fly for ID help please.

[earthdragon64]

I found this on an open grassy area at Insh Marshes RSPB reserve on the 20th of June. It looked a bit like a hoverfly, but wasn't hovering. the flower it is on is Pignut.





Regards, Audrey.

[aeshna5]

Looks like one of the Eristalis hoverflies to me.

[Geoff F]

Now this is a tricky specimen.

It is a hoverfly of the Eristalis family but there are a couple of possibilities to consider.

It has a dark squiggle on the wings and abdomen colouration similar to a typical Eristalis horticola. But that should have a completely pale face while yours appears to have a dark line down it's face.

E. pertinax can sometimes have similar dark wing markings and widely variable abdomen colourations. It should have a prominent dark face stripe but paler specimens are quite common.

Adding together what is visible from your photo, I am tempted to suggest that this is a variation of E. pertinax. But I would like a second opinion from a more knowledgeable person!

[earthdragon64]

Thanks to you both.

Regards, Audrey.

[Jason Green]

Evening Audrey,

Eristalis horticola, on account of the central wing markings - saw one myself recently, and is one I'm happy to field-identify.

Take care,

Jason

[earthdragon64]

Thanks Jason.

Regards, Audrey.