hoverfly sawfly snipefly?

diggleken · #1 (**permalink**) 19-07-2010, 04:40 PM

Hi all,
bit of help/confirmation with these would be appreciated, ta.
Chrysotoxum cautum?

Eristalis tenax?

Sawfly larva, host plant maybe - on yellow loosestrife, but flag iris nearby...............! Didnt quite look like iris sawflies previously seen, this is more two tone, but similar whiteish spots.

Snipe fly? It wasnt upside down!!

Cheers
Ken

JRsbugs · #2 (**permalink**) 19-07-2010, 05:51 PM

#1 is Chrysotoxum festivum, I've had it too!

#2 I would need to see the hind leg, but somehow it doesn't look like E. tenax. I'll have to check that one out!

#3 ?

#4 Empis livida

Janet

JRsbugs · #3 (**permalink**) 19-07-2010, 06:02 PM

The sawfly larva looks a lot like Rhogogaster genistae but they feed on broom.

Geoff F · #4 (**permalink**) 19-07-2010, 06:07 PM

With No. 2; the abdomen colours and wing shade look correct for Eristalis horticola. But I'm not sure about that dark face mark.

E. horticola should have a plain face. But is that a definite stripe or just a mere smudge?

E. tenax, as Janet suggested, can occasionally have a dark wing mark but their face stripes are normally quite clear, although this can be reduced. E. pertinax is similar but the tarsus on legs I & II are yellow.

Going by the extent of the wing shade, I would be tempted to suggest E. horticola but, like Janet, I would like to see more details, particularly the hind leg.

If you can identify that sawfly larvae, let me know. I have an identical specimen from last year which is still waiting to be named!

Jason Green · #5 (**permalink**) 19-07-2010, 06:09 PM

Afternoon Ken,

Quote:

Originally Posted by JRsbugs

#2 I would need to see the hind leg, but somehow it doesn't look like E. tenax. I'll have to check that one out!

I agree, not tenax - I did wonder about Eristalis horticola or even something like arbustorum, but not sure enough to say. Confusing bunch!

Take care,

Jason

JRsbugs · #6 (**permalink**) 19-07-2010, 06:31 PM

Eristalis horticola does fit other than being able to see the hind femora clearly, the base (next to body) should be yellow. Femur one has long yellow hairs which fits a male. Sinuous dark patch on wing, pterostigma twice longer than wide.

Jason, E. arbustorum doesn't have a dark stipe on the face, usually doesn't have the dark wing band either.

Jason Green · #7 (**permalink**) 19-07-2010, 06:34 PM

Thanks, I over-looked that point! As I said though, they're confusing.

Over the last couple of days I've seen a couple of Eristalis that have had brown wing-patches (one being a stunning mimic of a Honeybee) - but clearly aren't horticola.

diggleken · #8 (**permalink**) 19-07-2010, 08:58 PM

Brilliant stuff, thanks Janet, Geoff and Jason!
At least I got the hover genus!
That sawfly does look exceedingly like pic of your rhogogaster Janet, can only see very minor diffs, so that does look a very good call - I'll do some more searching on tinternet though................

Oh, forgot, there are broom nearby!
And a good link to a useful site, ta, now in my favourites.
Cheers all, thats great.

Ken