Episyrphus balteatus

This is one of the most distinctive of Britain's hoverflies. It is also one of the most abundant and most recorded species. The two photographs below were taken at Brockholes Wetland Reserve, Lancashire, on 11th July 2011.

 

The following two photographs were taken in a suburban garden, Darwen, Lancashire on 6th October 2012.

Episyrphus balteatus

This is one of the most distinctive British hoverflies. It is one of the most abundant and most recorded species. The two photographs were taken at Brockholes Wetland Reserve on 11 July 2011.

 

 

 

The following photographs were taken in a Suburban Garden, Darwen, Lancashire on 6th October 2012.

 

 

 

 

 

Eristalis pertinax

This was the first hoverfly that I came across this year. It was 23 March on open heather moorland (West Pennine Moors SD 682200, altitude 400m) when this hoverfly was attracted to my rucksack. This large species was identified  by its having entirely orange front tarsi, and the basal half of the hind tibia being pale.

Long-legged Fly (dolly) Dolichopus sp.

This rather beautiful metallic green fly was photographed in a meadow close to a stream in Darwen, Lancashire. This is a male with prominent genitalia at the rear. The larvae are predators on smaller invertebrates.

Eristalis horticola (Hoverfly)

This large hoverfly is abundant in my garden (north west England) between April and October. This specimen was seen on 16.6.11. It is a particularly brightly coloured species of its genera and has a characteristic darkened area across the wing below the stigma.
Order Diptera
Family Syrphidae

For a natural history blog from the same area check out http://michaelfoleysnaturalhistorysite.blogspot.com/

Gymnocheta viridis (a Tachinid Fly)

The images above were taken at Brockholes Wetland Reserve, Lancashire on 6th June 2011.
This beautiful fly is often found close to woodland. As an adult it feeds on nectar and pollen but its larvae are endoparasitoid on moth and butterfly caterpillars causing their host's eventual death. This fly belongs to the family Tachinidae all of which are endoparasitoids on other insects. At a glance it can be mistaken for a greenbottle but differs in that it is covered in bristles.

An interesting video on tachinids can be found at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5llTAwSVyeA