Megasyrphus Annulipes a Largish Hoverfly, with a Wingspan of About

Megasyrphus annulipes Metasyrphus corollae A largish hoverfly, with a wingspan of about Wingspan about 16-18mm. Wings clear, 25mm. Abdomen black with yellow stripes, thorax unmarked, abdomen black with I like many similar species, but this one is interrupted and 2 notched or interrupted larger and rather hairier than comparable stripes of yellow. species. The thorax is blackish-brown and Habitat Almost any flowery habitat, shiny. including gardens. Habitat Found in woodland margins and Status and distribution Widespread and rides. common throughout, with numbers proba• Status and distribution Widespread bly boosted by migration in some years. but local in the UK, rather more frequent Season 5-10. in Europe. Similar species Season 5-10. M. latifasciatus has a rather broader Similar species abdomen, and areas of yellow more No close relatives, but see Syrphus ribesii rounded. Widespread and moderately fre• (see p.224) quent in open flowery habitats, especially in damp places. Meliscaeua cillclella A smallish hoverfly, wingspan about 20mm. Melasyrphus lzmiger Abdomen pattern rather resembles Episyr• Similar in size and general shape to the phus balteatus without the double black above 2 species but generally blacker in mark, though overall it is a slightly smaller appearance, with 3 pairs of comma-shaped and more slender species. lunules of creamy yellow on the abdomen. Habitat In scrub and rough flowery habi• Habitat A wide variety of flowery habi• tats; very mobile. tats such as pastures, woodland rides, gar• Status and distribution Widespread dens. and frequent, probably migratory. Status and distribution Widespread Season 5-10. and common, probably boosted by immi• Similar species grants in some years. Melangyna cinaa is similar in size and gen• Season 4-10. eral markings, but has more black, with the Similar species uppermost yellow markings reduced to 2 M. nielseni is very similar, but the lunules lateral triangles. Widespread, more fre• ,have blunter outer ends. Very local, mainly quent in the south. in Scotland in the UK, but occasional else• Meliscaeva auricollis has the dark abdominal where; widespread but local in Europe. bands prolonged forwards into a pointed M. nitens often has the yellow bands joined, triangle. It is widespread in wooded except the uppermost. Local, in old wood• places, common in the south, rarer further lands. north. See also Scaeva species (p.222). 220 DIPTERA Ep/stmphf II/t/d/coll/s north in the UK. Widespread on the Con• A typical hoverfly, with yellow and black tinent. abdomen. Wingspan 22-24mm. The legs Season 5-8, most frequent 5-6. are entirely orange, and the thoracic pat• Similar species tern should be checked carefully against the L glaucia has less white on the abdomen, photograph. and a more slender body. Similar habitats, Habitat Woodland rides and glades. but more local. Status and distribution Local in south• ern part of UK, more widespread on the .)'caCl'il jJ)'r£lstri Continent. A largish conspicuous hoverfly, with ;) Season 5-8. wingspan of about 25mm. The black Similar species abdomen, with 3 creamy-white pairs of E. diaphana has broader yellow bands on lunules, is a distinctive combination (except the thorax; local. for species below). E. grossulariae has even broader bands, with Habitat Most open sunny flowery habi• the top one consisting of 2 almost square tats, including gardens; a very mobile blocks. Widespread but local. species. Status and distribution Widespread Lp/s)'rIJhlls battcatlls and generally common, with numbers Probably the most frequently noticed hov• boosted in some years by immigration. erfly. The orange body, with double black Season 5-10. stripes across it (the lower one very nar• Similar species row in each case) is distinctive. S. se/enitica is superficially similar, but the Habitat May occur in almost any habitat white commas extend equally far up the where there are flowers; highly mobile, abdomen at either end. Local but wide• migrating widely. spread. Status and distribution Widespread and abundant throughout, though varying Sphaemphoria scripta in numbers according to the number of One of a group of similar small species, with immigrants. a wingspan of 12-15mm, and a yellow edge Season Mainly 3-11, but could be seen in to the black thorax. Abdomen black and any month. yellow; in this species, the long abdomen projects noticeably beyond the wings. I.ClfCf)ZOllt1 IUU)rU1Jl Markings variable. A distinctive medium-large hoverfly, with a Habitat In most flowery habitats includ• 'f.hyrphus balteatus, pupa wingspan of about 25mm and a broad body. ing gardens and waste ground. Abdomen creamy-white above, black Season 5-10. towards the tip; thorax black with brown Similar species hairs. The wings have a dark patch near the S. menthastri is slightly smaller, and has each centre of the front margin. yellow bar interrupted. Widespread and ~ Habitat Damp open woodland with rides common throughout. and clearings. S. phi/an thus is smaller and darker, with 4 Status and distribution Widespread, pairs of yellow dots. Mainlywestern in UK frequent in the south though rarer further on heaths, moors, acid uplands. \.- 222 OIPTERA Syrphus rihesii Habitat Grassland, woodland rides and A common and familiar 'typical' hoverfly. other flowery places, usually where there is Wingspan 20-24mm. Thorax dark, un• some bare ground. marked. Abdomen broad, roughly oval, Status and distribution Widespread with I interrupted and 3 uninterrupted yel• but local in UK; widespread on the Conti• low bands; females have entirely yellow nent. hind femora. Season 5-9. Habitat Most flowery habitats, such as Similar species rough grassland, hedgerows, gardens. X. citrofasciatum. Similar in size, shape and Status and distribution Widespread general appearance, but wings barely and common throughout. marked, and the first yellow markings on Season 5-1 I. the abdomen are stripes rather than trian• Similar species gles. Widespread on the Continent, but See Megasyrphus annulipes (p.220). local and southern in the UK. Syrp/ms uitrillCllI/is /~hingia campcstris This species resembles S. ribesii in general One of the most distinctive of hoverflies, form and colouring. It is usually slightly once learnt. Wingspan 22-25mm. Abdo• smaller and more slender, and part of the men brownish-orange, usually with a dark hind femora of the females is always black stripe down the centre (occasionally much (all yellow in the above species). Males are reduced). The most distinctive feature is much more difficult to separate with cer• the extended snout, clearly visible from tainty in the field. most angles. Habitat Occurs in a wide va,-iety of flow• Habitat Most closely associated with ery habitats. They migrate widely and can damp cattle pastures, but they are mobile appear almost anywhere. and can turn up almost anywhere. Status and distribution Common and Status and distribution Widespread widespread throughout, varying in abun• and common throughout. dance according to immigrant numbers. Season 5-10, most frequent in early sum• Season 3-1 I. mer. Similar species Xanthogramma pedisseql/l/m R rostrota is generally more orange, with An attractive medium-sized species, with a virtually no dark stripe, and the snout is wingspan of about 22mm. Generally black, slightly smaller and paler - not always easy but with a yellow stripe on each side of the to separate from R campestris. Local or thorax, yellow triangles on each side of the rare, mainly in woodland. abdomen, then 2 interrupted yellow stripes below that. Wings have dark patches towards the front margins. 224 DIPTERA Drone-fly Habitat Various flowery places, espe• Eristalis tenax cially if damp or semi-shaded. A common and familiar species, noted for Status and distribution Widespread its mimicry of male Honey Bee. Wingspan throughout, but local. 24---28mm. Highly variable, basically deep Season 3-9. brown with 2 narrow whitish rings, and Similar species greater or lesser amounts of orange on the See Narcissus Fly (p.228), which is usually edges of the abdomen. Rather hairy. darker, and has all-black legs. Habitat A very wide range of habitats, occurring almost anywhere that there are Eristalis ncmO/'llm flowers. A smaller species than the above, with a Status and distribution Widespread wingspan of about 22mm, and a shorter - and common throughout. body. Abdominal markings similar to E. per• Season Can be seen in any month, and tinax, legs black and yellow, wing with just a adults hibernate. small squarish dark mark. Similar species Habitat A wide range of flowery habitats. '.llIntt-fly E.horticola has a shorter, broader abdomen, Status and distribution Widespread a darkened area in the centre of the wing, and common throughout. and broad curved yellow marks on the Season 4---9. abdomen. Widespread but local through• Similar species out. E. arbustorum can be almost identical in size and markings, though the face is usually pale Eristalis fJertinax without a dark stripe, and there is usually Rather similar to Drone Fly,though slightly more yellow on the abdomen. Similar habi• more slender with a strongly tapering tats and distribution. abdomen, and with I pair of broad yellow markings on the abdomen; front legs Eristalinus sefJulchralis wholly orange. A small blackish fly, with a wingspan of less Habitat Found in a wide variety of habi• than 20mm. Thorax and abdomen black, tats, wherever there are flowers. Larvae with obscure greyish stripes on the breed in wet, organically enriched situa• abdomen. An active little fly, less approach• tions. able than many hoverflies. Status and distribution Widespread Habitat Lowland marshes, damp grazing and common throughout. and similar damp flowery habitats. Season 3-10. Status and distribution Widespread but local throughout. Eristalis intricarius Season 4---9. A furry bee mimic, similar in size to Drone• Similar species fly, though seeming more robust as it is E.aeneus is rather larger and longer-bodied, much hairier.

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