The Hoverfly Thread (1 Viewer)

[Brian Stone]

A fascinating group of insects with some interesting mimics.

Here are three to start off with. Feel free to shoot my IDs down in flames

First two Eristalis tenax (Drone Fly)
Epistrophe eligans
Helophilus pendulus

The following key covers Helophilus sp.:
http://home.hccnet.nl/mp.van.veen/KEYS/Helophilus/helo_key.html

The last pic is another Eristalis tenax I think.

 

[Surreybirder]

Good idea starting a hoverfly thread, Brian. Tricky little blighters
There was a guy on Birdforum when I first joined who used to ID mine for me. I wonder if he's still a member.
The only one I've photographed so far this year was this a.m. (see attached). It was largish and at first I thought it might be a bee fly. I don't even bother with the small dark ones as I know my camera just isn't up to getting them.
Ken

 

[Surreybirder]

thought I might as well put up a few others that have been identified by 'experts'
Ep. balteatus is one of the commonest and is sometimes called the marmalade fly.
there's another one (Rhingia campestris that's called the 'Heineken fly' 'cos it's got a big snout -- it reaches the parts.... :bounce:
You can see it at: http://www.gardensafari.net/english/picpages/rhingia_campestris.htm)
Ken

 

[Brian Stone]

Thanks for these Ken. Pretty sure I had the third one recently. There is a slight typo in the name given for that on the Birdforum thead you mentioned. It should be Dasysyrphus albostriatus.

 

[Surreybirder]

Thanks for these Ken. Pretty sure I had the third one recently. There is a slight typo in the name given for that on the Birdforum thead you mentioned. It should be Dasysyrphus albostriatus.

Thanks, I'll correct it.
Ken

 

[Andrew]

How did you manage to photograph so many different ones, they never let me get close enough!

 

[Surreybirder]

How did you manage to photograph so many different ones, they never let me get close enough!

persistence--sometimes it pays to wait by a marigold and wait for one to come!
In case anyone's interested here's a few more:
Ken

 

[Surreybirder]

I saw several types of hoverfly while walking the dog this a.m. The only photo I got was of this one on an apple tree in our garden. Not in a very helpful position, I'm afraid! It was about 10mm long.
Ken

 

[steve covey]

Good idea starting a hoverfly thread, Brian. Tricky little blighters
There was a guy on Birdforum when I first joined who used to ID mine for me. I wonder if he's still a member.
The only one I've photographed so far this year was this a.m. (see attached). It was largish and at first I thought it might be a bee fly. I don't even bother with the small dark ones as I know my camera just isn't up to getting them.
Ken

Hi Ken,
this one is Leucozona lucorum, a fairly common spring species; but attractive nonetheless!
Cheers,
Steve.

 

[steve covey]

I saw several types of hoverfly while walking the dog this a.m. The only photo I got was of this one on an apple tree in our garden. Not in a very helpful position, I'm afraid! It was about 10mm long.
Ken

Hi again this one is Epistrophe eligans. Loads in the garden and elsewhere at the moment.
Cheers,

Steve.

 

[Surreybirder]

thanks, Steve... common or not, they're new ones for me. I saw another E eligans this a.m. I'll try and photo it just to be sure! (It's in the fridge at the moment.)
Ken

Edit: active little blighter! Here are a couple of shots taken before I released him.
Am I right in thinking that you can sex hoverflies by the gap between their eyes? Compare this one with that in post #2.

 

[steve covey]

persistence--sometimes it pays to wait by a marigold and wait for one to come!
In case anyone's interested here's a few more:
Ken

Hi again Ken,
I think the third picture in this batch is Scaeva pyrastri rather than selenitica. The lunules are too blunt to be the latter I feel [and also it is a pretty scarce species - according to 'Stubbs'].
After saying that I'm not an expert as you know so it might be worth posting it on the Yahoo Hoverflies group as well.
Cheers,
Steve.

 

[Surreybirder]

Hi again Ken,
I think the third picture in this batch is Scaeva pyrastri rather than selenitica. The lunules are too blunt to be the latter I feel [and also it is a pretty scarce species - according to 'Stubbs'].
After saying that I'm not an expert as you know so it might be worth posting it on the Yahoo Hoverflies group as well.
Cheers,
Steve.

You may well be right, Steve. It's sometimes a case of which 'expert' you believe!
Ken

 

[Brian Stone]

FWIW, following this key
http://home.hccnet.nl/mp.van.veen/KEYS/Scaeva/scae_key.html#item5
I come up with selenitica.

 

[Brian Stone]

Hoverflies of Northwest Europe

This book looks great. Does anyone here have it? If so what do you think?
http://www.knnvpublishing.nl/

 

[Brian Stone]

Sexing hoverflies

Am I right in thinking that you can sex hoverflies by the gap between their eyes?

Males have larger eyes so they meet at the top of the head. There is a gap there on females. Hania and Hans Arentsen's site ilustrates this well:
http://www.gardensafari.net/english/hoverflies.htm

 

[Angus T]

This book looks great. Does anyone here have it? If so what do you think?
http://www.knnvpublishing.nl/

I have British Hoverflies on order, will tell you about it when I have something to tell.

 

[Surreybirder]

How did you manage to photograph so many different ones, they never let me get close enough!

I tried your Billy C quote out on a friend. He replied:
But do you feel the hole in his shoes where the cold gets in?

Food for thought!!

 

[138mph]

Hoverfly? for ID

Hi,
I think that this is a hoverfly - any offers on an ID?
Thanks,
Hugh

 

[Kevin Mac]

Wow. So many hover flies. So many bumblebees. One of the groups that really catches my attention are robber flies. I understand they are predatory. Some of them sure look freaky with their front legs hanging down and their somewhat bucked tooth look staring at you as they hover in the middle of the road waiting to jump another insect (I presume). They are the size of a medium bumblebee. Do any of you have any expertise with these?