Hoverfly ID's

[Tormentil]

Can anyone put a name to these?

1. ?Chalcosyrphus nemorum


2.


3.

[Jason Green]

Afternoon Ben,

They are Syritta pipiens (note red marking on ventral-edge of hind femur) - probably male, Melanostoma scalare and Melanostoma mellinum.

Take care,

Jason

[Geoff F]

Just to be difficult (once again) I question No. 2.

To me, those spots appear far too rectangular for Melanstoma and when I run it through the keys it comes out as Platycheirus clypeatus female, which is what I suspected.

These are all tricky species though, so I'm not 100% certain.

Any other thoughts, anybody?

[JRsbugs]

I'm glad you came to Platycheirus clypeatus with your keys Geoff, it looks like a female I named that last year.

I still haven't named all my Platycheirus from last year! Winter job again I think, I'm too busy with this year's takes.

Janet

[Jason Green]

I saw the third first - M. mellinum, then the dusting on the face of the second and thought scalare. Oops! Thanks for the correction Geoff, and 'pologies to Ben

[Tormentil]

Thanks Jason & Geoff.

I have Stubbs & Falk, but find it very difficult to follow the keys. Is it an "age" thing?

No need to apologise Jason, you're always very helpful.

[Jason Green]

Originally Posted by Tormentil

I have Stubbs & Falk, but find it very difficult to follow the keys. Is it an "age" thing?

Probably a lack of a specimen (in some circumstances), which are what they are written with in mind. With practice, they get a lot easier.

You can always ask on here!

[Geoff F]

Age isn't really that much of a problem, Ben, it's just that everything takes that little bit longer! Although I do notice my ID ten T moments a bit more now.

When using S&F for a new species ID, I usually go to the illustrations first then when I think I might be on the correct lines I read the information pages which are linked from the illustration.

That, I find, gives me enough background information to follow the keys. Although because photos usually lack some critical information, I am often running a couple of keys together until I realise that one is obviously going in the wrong direction.

The information is usually there; it just takes a lot of sifting to find it!

Jason, looking at the frons, and to some extent the legs, there is quite a bit of similarity between Melanstoma and some Platycheirus females.

At one site, feeding on bindweed, I am seeing Melanstoma scalare (and the odd M. mellinum) plus Platycheirus clypeatus, P. melanstoma and P. tarsalis males and females all mixed in together. And just when I think I have my ID skills well honed, along comes a colour variation!

[Tormentil]

Originally Posted by Geoff F

... I realise that one is obviously going in the wrong direction....

That's when I slam the book shut!

Originally Posted by Geoff F

When using S&F for a new species ID, I usually go to the illustrations first then when I think I might be on the correct lines I read the information pages which are linked from the illustration.

That, I find, gives me enough background information to follow the keys.

I'll give that method a whirl. Thanks Geoff.