Hover -fly help please ...

jaybie · #1 (**permalink**) 14-08-2010, 06:22 PM

The sun came out for bit this afternoon and I was surprised at the number of hover-flies on the clematis. I have tried to identify some of them and come up with these (which may or may not be right) - any help appreciated.

#1 Episyrphus balteatus

#2 Eupeodes luniger

#3 Scaeva pyrastri

#4 Syrphus ribesii

Many thanks, JohnB

aeshna5 · #2 (**permalink**) 14-08-2010, 06:38 PM

Agree for sure the first three + possibly for the fourth but I'm less sure here!

Geoff F · #3 (**permalink**) 14-08-2010, 06:40 PM

That all seems OK to me except as the hind femur of the Syrphus female is hidden we can't separate ribesii from vitripennis here.

Eupeodes are a tricky family to identify but that female clearly shows the black Y mark attached to the frons so I would say it is definitely E. luniger.

Jason Green · #4 (**permalink**) 14-08-2010, 07:31 PM

Evening John,

I agree with the first three, and the last lacking the hind femur could be Syrphus ribesii, vitripennis... potentially even torvus (though less likely - but the eye-hairs are more subtle so I should think a closer shot would be needed to rule it out).

Take care,

Jason

jaybie · #5 (**permalink**) 14-08-2010, 07:36 PM

Thanks aeshna, Geoff and Jason.

I don't know if the shot below is any help as I just missed the focus and the hind leg may not be clear enough.

JohnB

Geoff F · #6 (**permalink**) 14-08-2010, 07:40 PM

That certainly looks like S. vitripennis to me, assuming we can rule out any of the less common variations.

Jason Green · #7 (**permalink**) 14-08-2010, 07:43 PM

Thanks John,

I don't know what degree the shade can vary to, but with vitripennis you need to confirm it with the basal wing-cells and microtrichae. Aso the shaded area should have only pale hairs growing from it which I can't see here.

In short, could be either with confirmation needing closer images I'm afraid!

jaybie · #8 (**permalink**) 14-08-2010, 08:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jason Green

Thanks John,

I don't know what degree the shade can vary to, but with vitripennis you need to confirm it with the basal wing-cells and microtrichae. Aso the shaded area should have only pale hairs growing from it which I can't see here.

In short, could be either with confirmation needing closer images I'm afraid!

I'm not surprised but thanks for taking the time to respond. The responses from yourself and Geoff have led me to other posts and information on Syrphus species and the difficulties involved - all interesting stuff

JohnB