Chrysogaster virescens
These 3 photos show Chrysogaster virescens from various angles. The clear wings and lack of deep black on the thorax rule out "solstitialis". What you can't see from the photo is the lack of grey hairs on the lower side of the thorax, which rules out "cemiteriorum" and this species is also matt black, so the bronzy green colour of any Chrysogaster is at least a pointer towards virescens. It is a species of acid moorland and was half expecting to find it at Garnwen eventually, it is regarded as local and the rarest of the Chrysogaster. Incidentally Chrysogaster are much larger than any of the other metallic species of the tribe.
Eupeodes latifasciatus
Male Eupeodes are difficult to identify from photos, I kept this one as it didn't fit neatly into the latifasciatus genus, but there are only 2 species with wavy yellow lines on the abdomen that don't reach the side (in Wales) and I thought this one might be bucculatus after looking at it under magnification but Roger thought not.
Cheilosia fraterna
The yellow hind tibia is a diagnostic feature of the "grossa group" of 4 species, but the other 3 species are very hairy on the thorax and abdomen while this one is clearly not, so this species can be done from a photo.
Cheilosia proxima
The only way to identify proxima is to catch one to check the underneath of the abdomen for dusting, so there's no way it can be identified from photos.
Orthonevra nobilis
I was quite surprised when this species came back as "nobilis" as the wing venation suggested Chrysogaster genus and the grey dusting on the side of the thorax pointed to cemiteriorum. Taking it as an Orthonevra the length of the yellow antennae and sparse dusting on the side of face point to nobilis.
Pipiza austriaca
Pipiza are almost impossible to identify from photos except austriaca which has a thickened ridge to the hind femora underneath which is just visible in some of the following photographs.
1 comment:
tidy
Post a Comment