1 hover and 2 others

[DaiTheDragon]

I actually think I have the first right but the other 2 I have no idea. Any help please.

Dai
Eupeodes latifasciatus?

[Geoff F]

It is getting a bit late now; I've been delayed in retiring tonight by a few interesting species like this hoverfly.

I would like to run it through the ID Keys tomorrow, but at the moment I think it could well be Epistrophe diaphana.

Do you have any more angles? Were there 2 faint pale bands on the thorax?

The 3 rd fly looks like one of the Sepsidae family but they require a real expert.

[DaiTheDragon]

Thanks Geoff. No pale bands on thorax and the only other angle i have is this, not a very good image though.

Dai

[oxycera]

2. Pollenia sp.

[Geoff F]

Well after going through the ID keys I think it is probably a slightly strangely marked E. latifasciatus; but I would appreciate a second opinion.

It comes down to the colour of hair on the abdomen edges, size/shape of the black part of the frons and colour of the front femur hair.

As far as I can see, there is a very narrow line of black hair all around the abdomen. The black part covers half of the frons but the leading edge does seem to be a strange shape; although not shaped like any of the recognised alternative species.

The yellow abdomen bands appear slightly unusual and sweep forwards at their outer corners but I think this is just another slight variation. These species can vary quite a lot.

Without seeing the hind femur, I wouldn't rule out E. nitens but your specimen does appear to have pale (not black) hairs on the posterior side of the front femur which supports E. latifasciatus.

But let's see if anyone else has any ideas.

[DaiTheDragon]

Thanks both for your help.

Dai

[JRsbugs]

I think it is Eupeodes latifasciatus Geoff. Check the females out on that site, they match well.

It does seem to be variable, some have spots reaching the sides, others don't but generally the spots are a 'skii glasses' shape. This one isn't quite!

Janet