The aphid munchers

06 Tuesday Sep 2022

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British hoverflies, hoverfly larvae, hoverfly larvae on Wild parsnip, Melangyna sp larvae, Melangyna species, Syrphus sp larvae, Syrphus species, Wild parsnip

Today’s focus is on one of the smaller things in life, specifically every gardener’s friend, one of the aphid munchers, the hoverfly larva.

220906 syrphus sp

In fact, not just one larva, but many, and from more than one species, feasting on aphid-infested Wild parsnip plants. The larvae in the photos above have been identified as being one of the Syrphus species of hoverfly, while those below, according to an expert, are probably Melangyna compositarum agg / umbelltarum. All would need rearing to adulthood for more precise identification.

220906 Melangyna sp

It’s worth checking the stems, leaves, seedheads of plants with aphid infestations as hoverfly larvae are almost certain to be lurking there somewhere.

The big four

23 Tuesday Aug 2022

Posted by sconzani in insects

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British hoverflies, hoverfly, Volucella bombylans, Volucella inanis, Volucella pellucens, Volucella species, Volucella zonaria

These are the big beasties of the hoverfly world, the bumblebee, wasp and hornet mimics. Though their size can be a little intimidating, they are all completely harmless to humans, and wonderful to watch going about their daily lives. There are actually five Volucella species in Britain – the woodland species Volucella inflata does occur locally (see A new hoverfly, June 2020) but I’ve not noticed one this year. The big four below are Volucella bombylans, Volucella pellucens (commonly known as the Great pied hoverfly, due to its colouring), Volucella inanis and Volucella zonaria – these are the two mostly easily confused with each other but the most obvious difference is the chestnut colouring of V. zonaria‘s thorax.

220823 volucella hoverflies

Hovering, summer 2022

20 Wednesday Jul 2022

Posted by sconzani in insects

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British hoverflies, hoverfly, hoverfly larva

A little video slideshow of some of the hoverflies that have recently caught my eye, including one new species larva – always a treat to find these strange-looking aphid eaters.

Perched

09 Wednesday Mar 2022

Posted by sconzani in insects

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British hoverflies, Eristalis species, hoverfly, hoverfly on hand

I’ve always been envious of people who manage to entice insects to sit on their hand / head / shoulder etc. You know what I mean – those photos on social media of a butterfly / dragonfly / moth etc seemingly content to perch for several minutes on a finger or palm or even face. So, I was exceedingly chuffed a couple of days ago when this Eristalis species of hoverfly graced my hand with its presence, even staying long enough for me to reach into a pocket for my camera and take a few photos. A special moment!

220309 eristalis

X is for Xylota & Xanthogramma

29 Wednesday Dec 2021

Posted by sconzani in insects

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British hoverflies, hoverfly, Xanthogramma pedissequum, Xylota segnis, Xylota sylvarum

If it weren’t for hoverflies, this letter might well have proven rather tricky. Fortunately, there are three genera of hoverfly in Britain with names beginning with X: Xanthandrus, Xanthogramma and Xylota. I have seen none of the first but I have seen one of the Xanthogramma species, X. pedissequum (there are two others that have so far eluded me, X. stackelbergi and X. citrofasciatum).

211229 Xanthogramma pedissequum

There are seven British species of Xylota, of which I have so far encountered only two, X. segnis (below left) and X. sylvarum (below right). I’m still finding hoverflies a rather tricky family to identify but these particular finds have been confirmed through a series of photos by those much more expert than I will ever be.

Doomed

16 Tuesday Nov 2021

Posted by sconzani in insects

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British hoverflies, Epistrophe grossulariae larva, hoverfly larva, parasitic wasp, wasp parasitising hoverfly larva

During Sunday morning’s meander around Cosmeston, I watched this little drama play out on a fence post: the larva of one of the Syrphus* species of hoverfly was being injected with eggs by a parasitic wasp. The poor larva was bucking about, desperately trying to get rid of the intruder, but to no avail. The wasp’s ovipositor was firmly wedged into the hoverfly larva, pumping eggs into its body. The larva will be eaten from the inside by the wasp’s larvae when they hatch.

*My ID was wrong. When I recorded this find, I got the following message from national recorder Geoffrey Wilkinson: ‘This is a small 3rd-stage Epistrophe grossulariae – the rear breathing tube is longer than broad and is two-toned in colour (brown tipped, clear base). Although the colour pattern has yet to fully develop you can just see the fish-bone pattern of green and make out the black dorsal dashes.’

Syrphus hoverfly larvae

06 Saturday Nov 2021

Posted by sconzani in autumn, insects, leaves, trees

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British hoverflies, hoverfly larva, hoverfly larva on Sycamore, insects on Sycamore, sycamore, Syrphus sp larvae, Syrphus species

We’ve seen the Godzilla of hoverfly larvae, one of the Dasysyrphus species, and, back in February 2020, I featured my very first hoverfly larva, one of the Platycheirus family, and then in September we saw the larva and adult of Scaeva pyrastri. However, I haven’t yet shown you the larvae I see most often, those of the Syrphus species of hoverfly.

211106 syrphus sp (1)

I usually find these on Sycamore leaves, the undersides of which are home to thriving families of aphids, the hoverfly larvae’s favourite food. Occasionally, I’ve found larvae on the tops of leaves or on branches, perhaps on the move to a new leaf. And yesterday, on Twitter, I saw a short video by my go-to hoverfly larvae expert on the various species of hoverfly larvae he had found on gravestones under Sycamore trees in his local cemetery. I’ll be checking out that idea during one of next week’s nature walks. Meantime, try turning over some Sycamore leaves – you never know what might be lurking underneath.

The Godzilla of hoverfly larvae

26 Tuesday Oct 2021

Posted by sconzani in insects, trees

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British hoverflies, Dasysyrphus larva, hoverfly larva, hoverfly larva eating an aphid, hoverfly larva on Sycamore

The highlight of Friday’s walk was marvelling at this hoverfly larva catch an aphid. The larva sat, perfectly camouflaged on its Sycamore seed, waiting for an unsuspecting aphid to tootle past. Though these larvae are blind, they can obviously sense movement, as this one rapidly twisted its body towards any approaching larvae. As I watched, it missed the first one but the next larva to chance its luck was grabbed and was in the process of having its life juices sucked out when I moved on.

211026 hoverfly larva (1)

Geoff, a hoverfly larvae expert I consulted on Twitter, was able to confirm a species but not a precise identification: ‘The Godzilla of hoverfly larvae! Certainly Dasysyrphus sp. probably albostriatus. Need a dorsal view of the rear breathing tube to be certain.’ Yes, you read that right – not only is the larva blind but it also breathes through tubes in its rear end!

211026 hoverfly larva (2)

Scaeva pyrastri

04 Saturday Sep 2021

Posted by sconzani in nature

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British hoverflies, hoverfly, hoverfly larva, Migrant hoverfly, Scaeva pyrastri

It’s quite the transformation, from this green larva that looks a bit like a cross between a slug and a caterpillar …

210904 scaeva pyrastri (1)

to this black-and-white flying creature.

210904 scaeva pyrastri (2)

This is the hoverfly Scaeva pyrastri and, amazingly, it’s a migrant from mainland Europe. A bit like the Red admiral butterfly, Scaeva pyrastri has good years and bad years, sometimes visiting lowland Britain in large numbers, sometimes hardly at all. And, when it comes here, it does often breed locally (and here, I must add a caveat – the larva in my first image may actually be the other Scaeva species, S. selentica, though that species hasn’t actually been recorded in my area).

210904 scaeva pyrastri (3)

Three more hoverflies

06 Saturday Mar 2021

Posted by sconzani in insects

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British hoverflies, Episyrphus balteatus, Eristalis tenax, hoverfly, Meliscaeva auricollis, spring hoverflies

These three are often the first hoverflies seen in the springtime as they all over-winter as adults, so it’s no surprise that I’ve now seen these three species as well my first for 2021, the Melanostoma scalare I blogged about 10 days ago (First hoverfly, 25 February). We’ll need a bit more sun and warmer temperatures before more hoverflies are out and about though.

210306 Episyrphus balteatus Episyrphus balteatus