Hoverfly ID

[Tormentil]

1. Melanostoma scalare ?


2.

[Geoff F]

So we have 3 different flies here; is that correct?

And none of them have an ideal angle for identification.

I would say the first was Platycheirus manicatus.

The others look a bit like Platycheirus albimanus.

But I'm not very confident of any of these suggestions, particularly the P. albimanus. However, at the moment I can't think of anything better.

Perhaps somebody else will see things a little clearer.

[Tormentil]

Originally Posted by Geoff F

So we have 3 different flies here; is that correct?

Thought No1 was taken at the same time, but on checking they were n't, so are possibly different.

Originally Posted by Geoff F

And none of them have an ideal angle for identification.

'tis the reason for my request for possible ID. I fear I might have to forgo getting a positive ID.

Thanks for trying anyway.

[Tormentil]

Could the first be P. tarsalis as the spots on tergite 2 do look parallel with the hind margin of the tergite?

[JRsbugs]

#1 looks like either Platycheirus nielseni or peltatus, male. You need to see the shape of the mid tibia, it has a curve and a swelling for nielseni. It does look to have that so I am leaning towards nielseni.

The second photo is different, checking the face profile with my photos I would say it's Platycheirus scutatus male.

#2 Platycheirus scutatus female.

[Tormentil]

Ummm, all rather confusing. I think the only thing we can definitely say is that they're of the tribe Bacchini, pos. Platycheirus sp.

[Geoff F]

Well we are all agreed that it isn't Melanstoma.

For me, after running through the keys again, I return to P. manicatus as the most likely answer for #1.

The spots on tergite 2 seem too big for P. tarsalis and more important the front leg is too yellow. And I would think the spots on tergites 3 and 4 are too deep for P. scutatus/peltatus or the closely related nielseni or amplus.

The problem is that P. manicatus normally has a matt slightly brownish thorax but I have found this to vary a bit depending on the angle of light. It is a species which I regularly see at this time of the year.

The other two flies could well be P. scutatus although I find this to be more of a spring flier. P. peltatus or one of it's close relatives is also possible but we need a good dorsal shot of tergite 2 in order to see the size of spots on tergite 2.

[JRsbugs]

#1 isn't P. manicatus, as said it's possibly P. nielseni which I had last year, or peltatus by the wedged shapes.

This is P. manicatus..



P. nielseni..

]

The second photo in #1 is likely P. scutatus male, or could be P. albimanus but there's not enough detail to be sure..

#2 is P. scutatus female. I have them in spring and last year to the end of October.

[Tormentil]

Rather than have a mis-identification, I'll put them down as Platycheirus sp. me thinks.