The Common Yellow Dung Fly (Scathophaga stercoraria)

The images above of Scathophaga stercoraria were taken 28/5/10 at an altitude of 744m 0n Swirl How, English Lake District. The identification has been confirmed on I spot.

There was a large population of this fly mostly on sheep dung where they feed on smaller insects and where the females lay their eggs. The eggs hatch into larvae which feed on other insect larvae; after which they burrow into the soil and develop into pupae.

As can be seen above, there was a notable difference in size between the males and females.

There is an incredible detailed image of the head of the Yellow Dung Fly and other insect images by Steve Gschmeissner using a Scanning Electron Microscope at

http://morrisonworldnews.com/?p=9000

Pond skater (Gerris lacustris)

The pond skater, common water strider (Gerris lacustris)

belongs to the order Hemiptera (true bugs), suborder Heteroptera.

The main feature of the order is the mouthparts which are of the piercing/sucking type.

Apart from the front pair, which are short and stubby and with which it holds its prey, its legs are elongated ,which like its body, are covered in tiny hairs. It can stand on and move across the surface of the water with its non-wetting legs, relying on the surface tension for support. Gerris is a carnivore that hunts for insects on the surface of the water and can detect slight vibrations caused by prey landing or falling on the water. It can travel at a speed of 1.5m/s across the water's surface.

The above specimens were observed in a drainage ditch on Darwen Moor, Lancashire,UK, 9/5/10.

Helophilus sp. ( H. pendulus or H. hybridus )

Helophilus pendulus Linnaeus 1758

is a common hoverfly which is usually found around puddles, ditches and shallow pond margins, but the specimen above was found in an urban garden on Convolvulus. The larvae may be found in farmyard drains, wet manure or sawdust. It appears between April and November.

Wing length 8.5 - 11.25mm

This specimen found in Garden, Darwen, Lancashire, UK , 10.9.09

Rhingia campestris Meigen, 1822

Rhingia campestris
A species of hoverfly with broad orange abdomen with black stripes along the sides. This black stripe distinguishes it from Rhingia rostrata. It has a distinctive long snout which gives it an advantage in foraging for nectar (adult male) or pollen (adult female). The larvae breed in cow dung where they are camouflaged.

Length; 7 to 11 mm

Wing span; 7.5 to 9.5 mm

This specimen in garden, housing estate, Darwen, Lancashire, UK.