2 hover-flies and a fly for ID

[Anzu]

Good afternoon,

Braved my wasp infested Norfolk garden (lots of very ripe blackberries) and found some hover-flies in need of identification.

Hover-fly 1:
Have I found a male Eupeodes luniger?




Hover-fly 2:
A lovely looking one, is this a Xanthogramma species of some kind?



Fly:
Sawfly maybe? really not sure. Rather smallish.



Thank you for looking!

[Johnny81]

The last is a sawfly an Arge sp. I think - I had one identified before.

[Anzu]

Thanks Johnny, I think I have narrowed down hover-fly 2 to Xanthogramma pedissequum.

[Geoff F]

I suspect the first hoverfly is Scaeva pyrastri judging by the way those hooked spots are further forward at the inner ends than the outer ends. But, ideally I would another angle to be totally certain.

The second is X. pedissequum.

[Anzu]

Originally Posted by Geoff F

I suspect the first hoverfly is Scaeva pyrastri judging by the way those hooked spots are further forward at the inner ends than the outer ends. But, ideally I would another angle to be totally certain.

The second is X. pedissequum.

Thank you Geoff,



Here is a slightly different angle, I think you are right about the spots. Would you be able to tell me how you can tell Scaeva species from Eupeodes species please, I have no clue

Katy.

[Johnny81]

No expert but looks quite large and would say Scaeva and if it turns out to be a Eupodes I would love someone to explain the easiest way to tell them apart

[Geoff F]

Like many species, there are a number of subtle differences which need to be considered.

Firstly, size is a good clue and S. pyrastri is quite large, although beware of comparing a small S. pyrastri against a large Eupeodes luniger.

The abdominal spots on S. pyrastri are rather pale and the inner ends reach further forwards than the outer ends, but this can be mistaken from some camera angles. Also, rather pale E. luniger specimens can be found.

But the main clue is the eye angle, viewed from above. S. pyrastri has a very wide angle while E. luniger is much sharper; very approximately (not exactly) 90 degrees. Compare them side by side and it should be obvious.

However, once again, beware of strange camera angles.

There are other differences but these mostly require close examination.

[Anzu]

Awesome Geoff what lovely description of how to tell them apart, I love learning more about identifying insects.

Thank you so much