Strange bee-mimic fly

[SamuelMillar153]

(click to enlarge)

Hi there

I'm new to the site and am hoping someone can help me identifly this (). A fly of course, maybe a hoverfly (but not like any I've ever seen) and certainly not a bee-fly. I saw it in farmland near Belfast, August 2011.

Thanks
Sam

[faz]

hi welcome to WAB it looks like a bee-fly, Bombylius major to me
there are around 10 species in the uk

[poschiavanus]

I'm pretty sure this a Hoverfly rather than a Bee-fly (which has the costal half of the wing darkened, and appears earlier in the year). Unfortunately it's not possible to pick out the wing venation which would make an identification more positive, but I think it is a female Volucella bombylans f. plumata (this species has several forms mimicking different bumblebees.

Here's one example from the WAB Gallery.

[Jason Green]

Hoverfly Arctophila superbiens or similar.

[SamuelMillar153]

Thanks everyone for responding so quickly!

I agree with Jason Green here. Female Arctophila superbiens would seem to be a perfect match. (Diptera > Syrphidae > species > Arctophila_superbiens) Am I right in thinking that all female flies' eyes are separate while those of males meet?

I looked up Arctophila in the NBN Gateway, where the only species listed is superbiens. This entry actually includes the following taxa: Arctophila suberbiens, Arctophila fulva, Arctophila mussitans, Volucella superbiens, Syrphus mussitans, Musca fulva, Arctophila superabiens. There are only two records for Ireland, neither of them near me, but maybe it's just under-recorded. I don't have much experience in the Diptera-recording world, although I've been recording butterflies and moths for two years. Is there a particular organisation for recording flies?

Volucella bombylans f. plumata seems to have different markings to this one.

I'm afraid none of the other photos I took of this species show the venation any more clearly.

Thanks again,
Sam

[Jason Green]

Originally Posted by SamuelMillar153

Am I right in thinking that all female flies' eyes are separate while those of males meet?

Yes, and in the case of many syrphids.

Originally Posted by SamuelMillar153

There are only two records for Ireland, neither of them near me, but maybe it's just under-recorded. I don't have much experience in the Diptera-recording world, although I've been recording butterflies and moths for two years. Is there a particular organisation for recording flies?

Yes, the Hoverfly Recording Scheme - happy reading.

[poschiavanus]

Originally Posted by SamuelMillar153

Thanks everyone for responding so quickly!

I agree with Jason Green here. Female Arctophila superbiens would seem to be a perfect match. (Diptera > Syrphidae > species > Arctophila_superbiens) Am I right in thinking that all female flies' eyes are separate while those of males meet?

I looked up Arctophila in the NBN Gateway, where the only species listed is superbiens. This entry actually includes the following taxa: Arctophila suberbiens, Arctophila fulva, Arctophila mussitans, Volucella superbiens, Syrphus mussitans, Musca fulva, Arctophila superabiens. There are only two records for Ireland, neither of them near me, but maybe it's just under-recorded. I don't have much experience in the Diptera-recording world, although I've been recording butterflies and moths for two years. Is there a particular organisation for recording flies?

Volucella bombylans f. plumata seems to have different markings to this one.

I'm afraid none of the other photos I took of this species show the venation any more clearly.

Thanks again,
Sam

Yes, I'd agree: much better call by Jason. Arctophila wasn't a species I was familiar with (not found in my local patches), and I wanted to dispel any impression it might be a Beefly.

Stuart Dunlop has seen this beast at least twice. These may be the sightings on the NBN website.

[SamuelMillar153]

Thank you - much appreciated!

[faz]

oop,s miss ID again ill leave insects to the experts

[Geoff F]

Am I right in thinking that all female flies' eyes are separate while those of males meet?

Just one thing to consider, Sam. There are a few species of hoverflies where males also have a gap between their eyes.

But in these cases, male eyes are parallel sided when viewed from above while females have the gap at a slight angle.