Hoverfly ID - ?Melangyna sp

[Tormentil]

Am I close ?

[Geoff F]

It certainly looks like a Melangyna species.

Can you confirm that it is female? As far as I can see from the angle in those photos it does appear female although, if that is correct, the eye gap does appear rather close. But I think that is just the photo angle.

So if female, it clearly keys out as Melangyna barbifrons, the only one with a shiny all black frons and pale abdomen spots.

Mostly a southern species although records are a bit sparse and it has occasionally been recorded in Scotland. Likes well established deciduous woodland. Mostly a spring species but can still be found in June.

But this is just my attempt to identify it so I would like a second opinion. If it is indeed, or looks likely to be, M. barbifrons I would suggest sending the photos on to Roger Morris at the Hoverfly Recording Site.

[Tormentil]

Thanks Geoff.

Here's two more I'm having difficulty ID'ing.

1.


2.


Spent an hour trying to get an inflight shot of a Volucella pellucens. This is the best I got....

[Jason Green]

Morning Ben,

Well done on the Melangyna naming! No ideas as to which from this end, though. As for the next bunch, we have a Cheilosia sp. (could be C. illustrata, but not certain - genitals are good for determining) and a male Syrphus sp., I believe - microscope job for species-level, again.

Excellent in-flight one, too.

Take care,

Jason

[Tormentil]

Thanks Jason & good morning.

The hairs at the tip of the abdomen on #1 look a bit pale orange-ish; is this a good pointer to C. illustrata. If it's genitalia is the only way to confirm it, I'll put it down as Chielosia sp. pos. illustrata

Could #2 be S. ribesii ?

[Jason Green]

Originally Posted by Tormentil

The hairs at the tip of the abdomen on #1 look a bit pale orange-ish; is this a good pointer to C. illustrata. If it's genitalia is the only way to confirm it, I'll put it down as Chielosia sp. pos. illustrata

I'm still lacking Stubbs and Falk but if that's a sign of illustrata then that may be key. I only say genitals may play a part in some cases where a particular species lacks more field-distinguishing features. Still, generally Cheilosia is one of those that could need it in some cases.

Originally Posted by Tormentil

Could #2 be [i]S. ribesii ?

Not sure... I can't see the hind femora clearly enough. However, seperation between ribesii and vitripennis comes down to a fine structure on the wing which is only microscopable unfortunately.

I'd say Syrphus sp.., personally.

[Tormentil]

'Twas from Stubbs & Falks (curtsey of S. Claus) and I still have difficulty ID'ing these lovely insects.

I was gonna go for Syrphus sp, as, like you say, can't see it's leg very well.

[Geoff F]

That certainly looks like C. illustrata to me. Antennae and face are grey which rules out most of the possible look alikes. The reddish abdomen tip is optional so it isn't a firm ID characteristic.

There is a lot of information in Stubbs & Falk but I find much of it is scattered around the book, and my copy is getting a bit well thumbed now. So last winter I started collecting it all together, plus other ID tips, on some checklists; including listing similar species which often cause confusion and adding some of my own photos.

I've done around half of the commoner species which are found around where I live; so there will still be plenty of work for next winter. Printed on A4 sheets which are side punched and inserted into a ring binder with one species per page and grouped into families.

But I still return to the book when I need to follow the ID keys or read up on questionable species.

[Tormentil]

Originally Posted by Geoff F

......I would suggest sending the photos on to Roger Morris at the Hoverfly Recording Site.

Joined HRS Forums & posted the pics. It would seem that's it is Melangyia sp and the most likely candidate is compositarum.

Thanks for the tip of using HRS.

Originally Posted by Geoff F

...... last winter I started collecting it all together, plus other ID tips, on some checklists; including listing similar species which often cause confusion and adding some of my own photos.....

Seems a good idea. I'll cogitate on this.