More IDs please - aka challenge for Jason et all

[colincurry]

I took these in the garden this pm and would very much appreciate more help.

1. I haver between sawfly and some form of wasp - mason maybe





2. A bee



3. A hoverfly



4. Yes



5. Possibly some form of hoverfly - very small and slender - could only get this pic



Thanks

Colin

[Africa]

Good night Colin
1. Ancistrocerus sp.
2. Bombus pascuorum
4. Apis mellifera AKA the honeybee
5. Sphaerophoria sp.

[Jason Green]

Evening Colin,

Yes, the first is a Mason Wasp (Vespidae; Eumeninae), and likely Ancistrocerus sp., but you need to see the sternites to go further with my key.

Next is the Common Carder-bee Bombus pascuorum. The Syrphid is a male Eupeodes corollae, then we have the European Honeybee Apis mellifera, and finally a Platycheirus sp., which for certainty needs microscopy - but I have a feeling it's from the Platycheirus scutatus/peltatus grp.

Take care,

Jason

[colincurry]

Thanks for the help - you soon learn who your friends are!

Colin

[bugbotherer]

Thanks for this post it helped me sort out a conundrum with a colleague about an unusual Nomada bee. Turns out it was Ancistrocerus nigricornis

[Jason Green]

Out of interest, how long did it take you to key it out?

[Geoff F]

For the Platycheirus, No. 5; there is a grey widened area on both the tibia and tarusus of the front leg and some long thick hairs on the femur, which is consistent with both P. albimanus and P. scutatus.

The abdomen spots appear a touch on the bright side for P. albimanus and the frons is slightly greyish. Both of which suggests P. scutatus as the more likely. But not guaranteed.