More hoverfly advice please

Dillybythesea · #1 (**permalink**) 09-07-2011, 04:18 PM

Following yesterday's help from Jason and Janet and tips from Geoff F I've been out looking and came back with what I'm thinking are Mr and Mrs Epistrophe grossulariae?

Then I rescued something from the sitting room which I think is Eupeodes corollae again? (I don't think the black stripes met up at the sides.)

And finally could I ask for a steer please on smaller, white/lemon faced ones? I came across various patterns of abdomen - such as this one?

Thanks as ever for any help!

JRsbugs · #2 (**permalink**) 09-07-2011, 06:48 PM

#1 is a male (and female!) Syrphus sp. not S. ribesii, could be S. vitripennis, or S. torvus if it has hairs noticeable on the eyes.

#2 Eupeodes corollae male!

#3 Sphaerophoria male. Some would say S. scripta, if you knew the wings were shorter than the body it probably would be.

Janet

Geoff F · #3 (**permalink**) 09-07-2011, 07:40 PM

A tip for E. grossulariae. The ends of the black bands are slightly rounded inwards. Or to put it another way; the extreme edge where the bands touch the abdomen edge is slightly narrower than the band width just before the narrowing.

And beware of E. diaphana where the black bands curve slightly forwards at their extreme outer leading edges.