ID please for bee and hoverfly please

[Dillybythesea]

I'm thinking this is Anthophora bimaculata and the abdomen just looks different to others I've come across because of being a bit worn and balding?
And looking through pics I'm wondering if the fly might be Chalcosyrphus something? Thanks in hope!

[Rambling Rob]

A. bimaculata is all over the Fleabane and Knapweed in Sandown at the moment and this looks like one to me - was it also hovering and buzzing a lot? Noisy little characters in my experience! Rob

[Johnny81]

The second is a hoverfly and might be Xylota sylvarum.

[Dillybythesea]

Hi! Thanks Rambling Rob - yes, much high-pitched buzzing and non-stop activity, punctuated with what seemed like a few swipes at me - all of which felt right for Anthophora! It's just that it's quite a lot later than we had them last year, and she looked a bit different. But sounds good from what you say about Sandown then!

And I'd thank you Johnny, I've googled Xylota sylvarum and didn't know about them at all and would love that to be right.

[Dillybythesea]

Me again. Looking at Xylota sylvarum, they seem to have more gold further towards the end of the abdomen, but I'm struggling to find others similar but with black-tipped abdomen...

[JRsbugs]

The syrphid is Xylota segnis, a common one. Note the long row of spines under the hind femora.

[Dillybythesea]

Thanks Janet!