Red-tailed hoverfly - id please

[Marilinda]

At first I thought this was a Volucella bombylans but then the antennae do not look right for that species and the lower legs are orange/yellow rather than black. How variable do this species come? Can anyone help please?
Marilinda

[Toby]

looks like Criorhina ranunculi in my book but i'm the last person to ask for a Hover ID!

[Chas]

criorhina ranaucili is what I would say after reading my copy of Stubbs "British Hoverflies". This species is a bee mimic and also an early flyer and has the yellow legs.

[Marilinda]

Thank you both - that is very helpful.
Marilinda

[Geoff F]

The only other possibility which I can think of is Eriozona syrphoides but I rather doubt this.

I suspect that Marilinda's specimen has too much red on the abdomen and E. syrphoides is somewhat uncommon; and appears to be mostly found in pine woods

[Anomalous]

Definitely the red-tailed form of Criorhina ranunculi, which is an early year species which can be plentiful on Sallow blossom in April. One of my favourite hovers!

Ian

[Roger Morris]

Correct ID is Criorhina ranunculi.

This is not a species that is seen often because it flies so early. Data for the recording scheme would be useful - date, location, species, who you are

Regards

Roger Morris
Hoverfly Recording Scheme
Hoverfly Recording Scheme - Index

[Marilinda]

Roger, I have attempted to submit the record. Thank you for confirming the ID.
Marilinda

[Roger Morris]

Hi

Don't seem to have received details

My e-mail is

roger dot morris at dsl dot pipex dot com

Regards

Roger

[cyberinsekt]

I'm a bit puzzled by this hoverfly I found today (Stoke St Michael, Somerset).
It was in deeply shaded woodland flying around the base of tree trunks, acting very like a bumblebee, although it was clearly not a queen B.lapidarius as it was noticeably smaller. It doesn't appear to be Criorhina ranunculi, and it wasn't behaving like the other red-tailed bumblebee mimic I'm familiar with, Volucella bombylans, either.