Possible Eristalis rupium - in the south?

OwlCreek · #1 (**permalink**) 13-05-2011, 07:34 PM

Hi all,

Am getting into hoverflies and have found this species of Eristalis in Hampshire. I think it is rupium based on the smoky wings and the hourglass shape on the abdomen that is heavily cut in before the two yellow patches on the second segment.

However, I am in Hampshire and all the records for rupium I can find are in Wales or further north.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks

JRsbugs · #2 (**permalink**) 13-05-2011, 07:45 PM

Ideally it would be best to see if the hind femora were orange at the base, but apart from that it looks like Eristalis horticola.

Janet

OwlCreek · #3 (**permalink**) 14-05-2011, 11:08 AM

Hi Janet,

Thanks for the help. The website I was using has lineata/horticola with a much darker thorax than in my photo.

Syrphidae - Eristalini

JRsbugs · #4 (**permalink**) 14-05-2011, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OwlCreek

Hi Janet,

Thanks for the help. The website I was using has lineata/horticola with a much darker thorax than in my photo.

Syrphidae - Eristalini

Flies can vary in colour due to several reasons, habitat and age are two of them but photos can give a false impression due to light levels. Although the site you linked to can be useful, it has mistaken identities and the disclaimer at the bottom indicates the ID's are not necessarily accurate.

You need to use keys, and sites such as diptera.info.