Hoverfly puzzle

[valdf]

When I looked at these 2 images I couldn't believe at first that they were the same insect - but the photos were taken one directly after the other:



I like this shot - it looks as if he's flying with no wings:



Anyway, I'm puzzled because this appears to be Sphaerophoria sp. but none of the pictures I've found have such a large gap between the spots. Can anyone throw some light?

Thanks,
Val

[JRsbugs]

The first is a Sphaerophoria sp. female.

The second is a different fly, it must have been there at the same time!

Xanthogramma pedissequum male I would say..

Hoverfly Recording Scheme - View topic - Xanthogramma pedissequum

Janet

[valdf]

Ah, OK - so I wasn't going mad! It was the bright yellow scutellum that threw me . . .

Thanks Janet.

Val

[Geoff F]

If you look carefully at the shape of that yellow abdomen side stripe and the different abdomen widths, everything should become clear.

But I have been caught out like this by some very similar looking hoverflies. Taken some good side views but needed a face shot for a confirmed identification. So I stepped back for a couple of minutes, while waiting for a suitable angle to appear, then took the required shot.

Despite me watching the scene, the crafty little . . . had done a switch on me.