First Recorded in the Garden: 01/05/2023
Family Syrphidae: Hoverflies
A very familiar and attractive family of flies belonging to the insect order Diptera (or True Flies). They have a single pair of wings, unlike most insect orders that have two pairs. Many species of hoverflies sport a yellow/black colour combination and are therefore often mistaken for bees or wasps, which many hoverflies attempt to mimic. However, they lack the ability to sting and are totally harmless.
With over 280 species recorded in the British Isles, most gardens will at some point in the year play host to more than one species. Many species are considered beneficial as their larvae feed throughout their development on aphids.
Interestingly, in most hoverfly species sex can be determined simply by looking at the hoverflies eyes. Usually if the eyes meet at the top of the head, then it’s a male; if separated then it’s a female. There area few species where this doesn’t hold true because they have males with eyes that are separated, however if they do meet you can be sure its a male.
Dasysyrphus albostriatus
At the time of first recording Dasysyrphus albostriatus on the 1st of May 2023, it was the 20th species of Hoverfly recorded in the Garden. Its genus was never really in any doubt; the black stripe down its face and the black markings on the wing’s leading edge identified it as such (*1).
The species was determined by the distinct characteristics, albeit faint examples, of the two grey stripes across the thorax in combination with the downward-pointing markings on the abdomen (*1).
A common species over much the country, particularly associated with woodlands, with two generations each year (1*). The specimen above is photographed feeding at the apple blossom.
*1: Ball, S & Morris, R. (2015)Britain’s Hoverflies A field guide. Oxfordshire: Princeton University Press.
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