[JIM MIDDLETON]

Hi,

Am trying to ID various hoverfly photos I've taken over last few years and am stuck on these 2 - can anyone help ?

First was taken 30/09/07 (looks a lot like Scaeva pyrastri to me except that the pictures in my book show creamy white markings on the abdomen, not yellow) and the second was taken 03/08/08 (presumably its a hoverfly ??)

Many thanks

JIM

[LindaBuckell]

Hi

Yes, the second one is a hoverfly and one of the Chrysotoxum, but which one Im not sure at the mo without looking further into the markings.

The first one is more difficult as its impossible to see the markings on the back.

If you are interested in hoverflies and would like to get them ID'd when you take pics, try and get full back and side shots with face as well if you can. There are so many different areas to look at and check to get the species right you should try and get as much detail as poss - even though that is difficult most times lol.


You could always try asking on here, they are more than happy to help:
http://www.hoverfly.org.uk/portal.php

Linda

[Brian Stone]

I'd agree with all of that. I've a suspicion the first may be Eupeodes luniger but shots from other angles would be useful.

[bellow]

I agree with our other friends comments, a vertical & head-on close up is essential,Another possible for no.1 is Eupeodes nitens(yell. bands can be narrower) plus wing formation can spread or be sloping back when at rest. Nice shots tho, No 2 is a mystery to me. The patterning is quite unique & none of my books pick this one out, more research needed.Again nice shot. Bellow

[Brian Stone]

I think it could be something to do with the angle on the second shot. I suspect a dorsal view will reveal a more typical Chrysotoxum pattern. It would be nice to see other shots if they exist.

[LindaBuckell]

Hi guys

Thanks for agreeing with my comments above.

Regarding the second pic, the only reason I knew it could be of the Chrysotoxum from what I could see is that I had one last summer positively identified for my by Roger on the HRS website and all around the thorax area has similar markings which I believe are rather unique to these. Here is just one of the pics of it I got last year. I do have the Stubbs and Faulk book, but even so they are still extremely difficult to ID correctly lol.

Is it ok on here to link my photos into a post? If not would you let me know as I dont want to get breaking any rules etc lol.

http://www.pbase.com/lindabuckell/image/102394347.jpg

[JohnColdwell]

second fly is a soldierfly - Oxycera. Probably Oxycera rara

[Brian Stone]

Well that explains a lot. Thanks John.