Smaller hoverfly ID queries

Dillybythesea · #1 (**permalink**) 06-11-2011, 06:33 PM

I really can't wait for Roger's book because I can't get clear on these small, dark one. First there was this one, two shots of the same, possibly Platycheirus sp?:

Then one with wide yellow blocks on the abdomen:

And these are two shots of another hoverfly, which might be the same as above, or not (

):

. But I shall understand if the answer is the shots/ angles aren't good enough to say much!

Geoff F · #2 (**permalink**) 06-11-2011, 07:12 PM

But I shall understand if the answer is the shots/ angles aren't good enough to say much!

Prepare to understand.

However, I would say you definitely have P. albimanus amongst them; and I would suspect the one with yellow blocks on the abdomen could be Melanstoma mellinum.

Dillybythesea · #3 (**permalink**) 06-11-2011, 09:42 PM

Thanks Geoff. I hoped you'd come by and put me out of my misery!

Now you've said that about P. albimanus I've checked against other pics and can see it looks infinitely plausible. Why didn't I come up with that... sigh?!

I'm grateful - Rhona

Geoff F · #4 (**permalink**) 07-11-2011, 06:22 PM

The silvery spots on the abdomen of photo #1 is the chief clue here.

The yellow spots are a bit tricky, but it is a bit late for some possibilities. Tergite 2 spots seem a bit big for P. scutatus and the frons is a bit dark for P. manicatus.

The spots are a bit too square for M. scalare and also the abdomen seems widest about half way along it's length; plus the narrow frons dusting. But from that shot, this suggestion does include a bit of guesswork so I wouldn't guarantee it.