Posted by
gneve on 30-11-2014 17:58
#2
As the antennas are black, it seems that this is S. loewi.
Stubbs & Falk (British hoverflies, 2nd ed, 2002) states for loewi : "the black antennae serve to separate this species from rueppellii, but it should be noted that some specimens of the latter species can have rather dark antennae. There should be very little doubt in separating loewi from rueppellii on the basis of male genitalia, but the orange legs and markings of loewi are a useful field character compared with rueppellii, where these are yellow"
So if you want confirmation, you need the genitalia of the male...
Edited by
gneve on 30-11-2014 17:58
#3
Hello Robert and gneve,
No male needed. This is a 100% S. loewi! Very nice find! The black andtennae in combination with the abdominal markings leave no room for S. ruepelli.
All Sphaerophoria are presumed to be aphidophagous on grass and such. S. loewi is probably dependent on a aphid from a rush. It has been found in both brakish and freshwater habitats. It's probably rare because adults are active above the watersurface and removed from the shore. Not a place where Syrphidologist tend to collect...
Mayhaps you can tell some more about the locality and time of capture?
Greetings,
Ectemnius