2 Beetles & 1 Hoverfly for ID

[Dae]

We had such a successful walk in Penallta Park yesterday and came away with so many photos. I was mainly out for Butterflies, but came came across several striking moths, bugs of many varieties & flies that I couldn't identify, so I was hoping for a bit of help with the ones I did manage photos of.

Now I know that bugs of most varieties can be problematic at best to get full ID's, even with the best of photos sometimes only a hands-on look can ID it, so even just a partial ID would be beneficial. Thank you in advance for looking!

These were all taken at Penallta Park, Ystrad Mynach (south wales) yesterday (May 7th).

[jamesthornton]

#1 Looks like Cantharis rustica
#2 Is some kind of Longhorn I think but I'm unsure about that!

[Dae]

Thank you James for looking, I agree that #1 looks right to my inexperienced eye, thanks!

[JRsbugs]

Cantharis rustica looks good to me for #1

#2 Oedemera sp.

#3 Xanthogramma, we have two species.. this looks like Xanthogramma citrofasciatum, the other has black above the antennae unless there's something else very similar! Hmm, it's the female with black so it could be the other.. Xanthogramma pedissequum

Hoverfly Recording Scheme - View topic - Xanthogramma citrofasciatum

http://www.hoverfly.org.uk/viewtopic.php?t=181

Janet

[Dae]

Janet, thank you for that, that certainly helps me narrow it down. I knew I was unlikely to nail down the specific ones without more detailed photos so I'm pleased to have this much. Thank you for looking!

[Geoff F]

I would say that Xanthogramma is definitely pedissequum.

Which is the 'common' form. But saying that, I saw 2 X. citrofasciatum last year and another last week, but I haven't seen a pedissequum for 3 years!

X. pedissequum has substantial triangular yellow wedges on tergite 2; very yellow front and middle legs plus a dark hind leg; the wing has a noticeable dark cloud; the scuttellum is all bright yellow.

With X. citrofasciatum tergite 2 has narrow bars; all legs are distinctly darkish orange; the wings only have very slight darkening and there is some darkening of the scuttellum particularly along the front edge.

I will see if I can find my photo in the Gallery.

Here it is



From that angle, the spots on tergite 2 appear slightly wider than in reality when viewed from behind.

[Lesinlondon]

Good images. I think I got the answer to one of my q's with Cantharis rustica. Thanks for that.

[Dae]

That certainly looks like my hoverfly (I generalize, I'm not actually sure where this falls in the insect family). I saw a few of these in this park on wales, but this was the only one that sat still long enough thank you for the ID, Xanthogramma pedissequum it is then! And a cracking photo you've got there btw!

[Klaas Reißmann]

Hi,

Cantharis rustica is right.

The Oedemera is Oedemera nobilis, male.

regards
Klaas

[Dae]

Klaas, thank you! That ID's my last one and it was far more than I expected. Thank you to everyone who took the time to take a look and help me ID these.