Epistrophe diaphana?

[JoanE007]

Hi

Could someone please help me id this hoverfly?

I wondered whether it is possibly an Epistrophe diaphana - seen today in North Hampshire (Magdalen Hill)?

[Anomalous]

Hi

Yes, it looks good to me. The yellow bands meet the front of the tergites and, at the lateral edge of the tergite, the yellow sweeps forward, narrowing the yellow band there. The antennae are dark, too.

A nice species.

Ian

[JoanE007]

Thank you very much Anomalous.

My interest in hoverflies is quite recent; I bought a copy of Stubbs and Falk to help me with my ids. After much reading and comparison I plumped for that hoverfly but because the text stated it was quite scarce I doubted myself.

Thanks again.

[Geoff F]

Another record for the Hoverfly Recording Scheme I think Hoverfly Recording Scheme - Home

And a timely reminder to check those 'Syrphus variations' for the two faint greyish lines on the thorax.

[Roger Morris]

Hello Joan

Yes this is the correct ID - not an easy one to do from photos - I see quite a few misidentifications but this si a good one.

Data welcome

Roger Morris
Hoverfly Recording Scheme
roger dot morris at dsl dot pipex dot com

[JoanE007]

Thanks Roger for the ID confirmation - I've sent you a message with the sighting detail.