Could this be Criorhina floccosa?

[Dillybythesea]

I rescued two of these from the sitting room this morning. (Well they looked the same but I only photographed one. I hope they're not hatching out in there!) Looking through bee mimic pictures I wondered about Criorhina floccosa? Help would be appreciated, as ever!

[JRsbugs]

Look at mine, it has a tuft of pale hairs at the top of the abdomen.. there's another similar. The lower part of the abdomen should also have dense reddish hairs, where C. berberina doesn't have either of these, but it does have black hairs on tibia 1 & 2 which yours has; floccosa has pale hairs.

Diptera.info - Discussion Forum: Criorhina floccosa? copula

So, it looks like C. berberina unless there's another syrphid similar!

Janet

[Dillybythesea]

What shots you took! Amazing! And yes, I can see the definite differences - certainly no tufty hips on mine, darker hairs on tibia 1 and 2, etc. When I googled C. berberina I also came across a comment about yellowish antennae too.

[Dillybythesea]

PS I wonder if this angle adds anything?

[JRsbugs]

So far I can't see anything which suggests it's not C. berberina.

Read through the posts on diptera.info, that will give you a good idea of what to look for.

[Dillybythesea]

Thank you Janet, and for that link. I can't see any impediment either.

Is it a species anyone likes to know about, or common enough not to worry - I can't really tell?

ATB, as ever - Rhona

[JRsbugs]

The write up on the HRS says it's the most common, but I'm sure Roger would like the record. He seems to have disappeared, probably busy on the new book. You can submit records on the site.

Hoverfly Recording Scheme - View Forum - The Species

[Dillybythesea]

Thanks (again) for the link. Having a look at that site I spotted this >

The Hoverfly Recording Scheme is pleased to announce that there will be a new hoverfly book suitable for the novice published in August 2011.

and wondered if it's the book in question. As it's an update, I wonder if you'd happen to know anything about the original? (Although it's apparently geared to the novice.) I'm just thinking, if it's full of pics of hoverflies, especially of the salient parts re individual species' ID, I'd be tempted to pre-order myself a copy! (Except it says to let Roger Morris know of one's interest to do so, but doesn't seem to say how...)

[JRsbugs]

It has Roger's email address on the write up,

Hoverfly Recording Scheme - Home

I might order one too! I don't have Stubbs & Falks, I recently got the newest edition of Mark van Veen with intentions of getting the new book when it comes out. Yes, Roger is working on the new book.

[Dillybythesea]

That write-up makes it sound even better than the one I came across. So I've emailed for a booking form (and said it's all your fault!)