Thread subject: Diptera.info :: Australian Syrphini

Posted by Susan R Walter on 13-10-2007 16:42
#1
Taken by my Mum, September 2007, inland Australia. My first thought was Eupeodes, but based on Paul and Gerard's comments in this thread http://www.tiny.c... I assume isn't.

Any ideas?
Edited by Susan R Walter on 13-10-2007 16:51

Posted by Susan R Walter on 13-10-2007 16:47
#2
A different specimen but I think the same species.

Posted by Gerard Pennards on 14-10-2007 17:52
#3
Well, my knowledge of Australian Syrphids isn't really that big, but this seems to be a male of Melangyna viridiceps. Cool
Greetings,

Posted by Susan R Walter on 14-10-2007 20:23
#4
I am impressed! I've had a trawl around the web and there appears to be a few reliably identified images of this species and it certainly looks like you are right. I am interested that it is always mentioned in tandem with Simosyrphus grandicornis, which appears to be very similar, and I am guessing the two are often misidentified for one another, but I think the scutellum patterns are different. The size and shape of the yellow spots on the abdomen appear to be very variable in both species.