Possible Melanostoma mellinum

DaiTheDragon · #1 (**permalink**) 14-06-2011, 08:49 PM

I think this is Melanostoma mellinum, am I correct.

Thanks
Dai

Geoff F · #2 (**permalink**) 14-06-2011, 09:06 PM

I think this is Melanostoma mellinum, am I correct.

Definitely not, Dai. The scuttellum is yellow.

My first thought is a slightly oddly marked Meliscaeva auricollis; but I will need to have a mull on this one.

Perhaps someone else will comment in the meanwhile.

Anomalous · #3 (**permalink**) 14-06-2011, 10:04 PM

Hi

I think that Meliscaeva auricollis is the likely ID...it is a variable species. With the shape of the yellow spots, it should be that species or Meligramma trianguliferum, but that is usually more slender, I think, and has a black spot at each corner of the scutellum, which is not visible here. The female also has a yellow bar on the side of the thorax, again not visible, here.

Ian

Geoff F · #4 (**permalink**) 14-06-2011, 10:44 PM

So now I can sleep easy tonight.

Thanks for your input, Ian. The very long scuttellum hair also made me consider Meliscaeva. This seems to be a good year for them where I live and I'm regularly seeing them now.

DaiTheDragon · #5 (**permalink**) 15-06-2011, 12:30 AM

Thank you both very much for your help. Without people like yourselves I would have given up on hover-flies.

Dai

JRsbugs · #6 (**permalink**) 15-06-2011, 01:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anomalous

Hi

I think that Meliscaeva auricollis is the likely ID...it is a variable species. With the shape of the yellow spots, it should be that species or Meligramma trianguliferum, but that is usually more slender, I think, and has a black spot at each corner of the scutellum, which is not visible here. The female also has a yellow bar on the side of the thorax, again not visible, here.

Ian

Meligramm triangulifera is now called Melangyna triangulifera. This cannot be that species, the female has pale antennae and yellow leg 1 tarsi and tibia. The spots on T3&4 are more triangular, the spots on the fly in question are not triangular. Here's mine from 2008..

Diptera.info - Discussion Forum: Meligramma triangulifera?

Meliscaeva auricollis looks OK, a female.

Janet

DaiTheDragon · #7 (**permalink**) 15-06-2011, 08:20 AM

Does this image help at all.

Dai

JRsbugs · #8 (**permalink**) 15-06-2011, 01:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaiTheDragon

Does this image help at all.

Dai

I'm a little confused as to why it would help, unless you want to see if it might be Melangyna (Meligramma) triangulifera?

As I have given reasons above why it cannot be M. triangulifera, no it doesn't help any more but as said above Meliscaeva auricollis looks OK.

Check out the pics of females on diptera.info

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