Gilfach (west) - Top Llangynwyd

 The weather was cloudy to start, but turned out much sunnier in the afternoon, there was also a stiff south-westerly at times. Ground Elder, Cow Parsley and even a single Hogweed was in bloom as was some late Hawthorn and Elder. Most of the Bramble was yet to bloom, so Meadow Buttercup was the go to plant. That said I had to work quite hard to achieve a respectful 38 species of hoverfly. Highlights included Chrysotoxum bicinctum (3), Dasysyrphus albostriatus (2), Dasysyrphus pinastri (1), Dasysyrphus tricinctus (2), Leucozona lucorum (1), Parasyrphus nigritarsis (1), Xanthogramma pedissequum (1), Cheilosia fraterna (1), Riponnensia splendens (1), Pipiza austriaca (2), Pipiza noctiluca (1), Sericomyia silentis (3), Volucella bombylans (5), Volucella pellucens (2), Criorhina berberina (2), Criorhina floccosa (1), Xylota jakutorum (4) and Xylota sylvarum (1). Highest totals were Sphegina sibirica (50+) and Xylota segnis (15).My yearly total has shot up to 80 species so far.

Volucella pellucens and bombylans on the same Bramble flower

Cheilosia illustrata

Cheilosia variabilis

Chrysotoxum bicinctum

Criorhina berberina - oxycanthae form

Criorhina floccosa

Dasysyrphus albostriatus

Helophilus pendulus

Myathropa florea

Pipiza species - in hand it turned out to be noctiluca

Riponnensia splendens

Xylota sylvarum