Hoverflies

[Jason Green]

Nice site, Chas! This one though Syrphus vitripennis photo - Charlie Fleming photos at pbase.com is more likely Syrphus torvus looking at the eyes.

Nice site, I'll have another look when I have more time

[Chas]

Thank you so much Jason. I was hoping that by directing "clever" people like yourself to the site, any mistakes could be corrected. Anything else on there you could help with if you have time?
Could you just run me through the difference between torvus and vitripennis? Is it that hairy fringe behind the eyes?

[Jason Green]

Thanks!

Originally Posted by Chas

Could you just run me through the difference between torvus and vitripennis? Is it that hairy fringe behind the eyes?

The hair is the defining difference with it being present on the eyes of torvus, though it's more subtle in the female.

With vitripennis the confirming point is the low-degree of microtrichae in the basal wing-cells, I view femoral shading as possibly variable, and more a guide.