Pied Hoverfly (Scaeva pyrastri)

OTHER NAMES: White-clubbed Hoverfly
Latin Etymology: Scaeva ("clumsy") pyrastri (?)

Adult Pied Hoverfly (Scaeva pyrastri) at Geddington, Northants - May 2019

Featured Subspecies: ?
Weight: ? /  Length: 11-15mm  /  Wingspan: ?
UK STATUS NOT EVALUATED / IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated 

A distinctive looking hoverfly with a mostly dark thorax with pale creamy "clubs" that give it it's name.  It is another species that is found across much of the old world.  It is a migrant species to the UK, and in some years it is common, while in other years it is scarce.

Related Species:
Order: Diptera
Family: Syrphidae
Genus: Scaeva
SUBSPECIES: ?

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A resident species which is seen in Summer

 - Seen in Geddington

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Common Spotted Eupeodes (Eupeodes luniger)

OTHER NAMES: Black-tailed Apideater
Latin Etymology: Eupeodes (?) luniger (?)

Adult male Common spotted Eupeodes (Eupeodes luniger) at Geddington, Northants - May 2019

Featured Subspecies: ?
Weight: ? /  Length: ? /  Wingspan: 19-20mm
UK STATUS NOT EVALUATED / IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated 

Another species which spans Eurasia, from Iberia through to the Russian Far East.  It's larva eat aphids, giving it the alternate name of the Black-tailed Aphideater.  It's abdomen is a distinctive metallic gold which is what me most immediatly take notice of it.

Related Species:
Order: Diptera
Family: Syrphidae
Genus: Eupeodes
SUBSPECIES: ?

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A resident species which is seen in Summer

 - Seen in Geddington

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Death Head Fly (Myathropa florea)

OTHER NAMES: Yellow-haired Sun Fly
Latin Etymology: Myathropa (?) florea ("flowery")

Adult female Death Head Fly (Myathropa florea) at Geddington, Northants - May 2016

Featured Subspecies: ?
Weight: ?  /  Length: ? /  Wingspan: 18-22mm
UK STATUS NOT EVALUATED / IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated 

A common species of hoverfly found across Eurasia, from the Atlantic to the Pacific. The name comes from the pattern on it's thorax which has some resemblence to a skull like patternation.   It is one of the more common species of hoverfly in the UK and most associated with woodland.

Related Species:
Order: Diptera
Family: Syrphidae
Genus: Myathropa
SUBSPECIES: ?

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A resident species which is seen in Summer

 - Seen in Geddington

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Pellucid Fly (Volucella pellucens)

OTHER NAMES: Pellucid Hoverfly

Latin Etymology: Volucella (?) pellucens (?)

Adult Pellucid Fly (Volucella pellucens) at Geddington Chase, Northants - June 2010

Featured Subspecies: ?
Length: 15-16mm  /  Wingspan: 30mm
NOT EVALUATED IN UK / IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated

A large and bulbous species of hoverfly with a distinctive large black and white set of markings, the pellucid fly is found across Northern Eurasia.  They are mainly found in woodland and is a brood parasite for wasps - entering their underground nests and laying their eggs where the hatching larvae feed on the remains of dead wasps.  It generally favours brambles as one of it's main plant choices.

Related Species: 
Order: Diptera
Family: Syrphidae
Genus: Volucella 
Subspecies: Unknown

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A resident species which is seen in Summer

 - Seen in Geddington

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Marmalade Hoverfly (Episyrphus balteatus)

OTHER NAMES: Marmalade Fly

Latin Etymology: Episyrphus (?) balteatus (?)

Adult Marmalade Hoverfly (Episyrphus balteatus) at Geddington Chase, Northants - July 2014

Length: 9-12m
Wingspan: 14-18mm
NOT EVALUATED IN UK / IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated

The marmalade hoverfly is a very widely distributed species found across Europe, North Africa and North Asia.  They are a fairly common species - often found in gardens.The distinguishing feature of this particular species is the moustache like markings on the body.  It is potentially the most common hoverfly species in the UK.

Related Species: 
Order: Diptera
Family: Syrphidae
Genus: Episyrphus
Subspecies: Unknown

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A resident species which is seen in Summer

 - Seen in Geddington

Further Notes: Arkive, BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Large Tiger Hoverfly (Helophilus trivittatus)

OTHER NAMES: Sun Fly

Latin Etymology: Helophilus ("marsh friend") trivittatus ("three band")

Adult Large Tiger Hoverfly (Helophilus trivittatus) at Geddington Chase, Northants - June 2010

Featured Species: ?
Length: 11-17mm  /  Wingspan: 20-24mm
NOT EVALUATED IN UK / IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated

The Large Tiger Hoverfly is one of the more widespread Hoverfly species found in the UK.  There are several similar Tiger Hoverfly species, but as the name suggests, this is the largest of them, though there are a number of small features which can be used to identify them in the field when accurate comparison might not be possible including the colours of various panels of their bodies.  It's favoured plants include thistles and hogweed.

Related Species:
Order: Diptera
Family: Syrphidae
Genus: Helophilus
Subspecies: Unknown

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A resident species which is seen in Summer

 - Seen in Geddington

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .