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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Flies (Diptera) » Aschiza » Syrphid Flies (Syrphidae) » Syrphinae » Syrphini » Scaeva » Scaeva pyrastri
Photo#279397
Syrphid Fly - Scaeva pyrastri - female
Copyright © 2009 Phil Huntley-Franck

Syrphid Fly - Scaeva pyrastri - Female
Elkton, Douglas County, Oregon, USA
May 11, 2009
Size: 1/2 inch +
Started out on Himalayan Blackberry . . . ended up on neighboring Evergreen Blackberry.

I take it these are very difficult to ID to species?

Images of this individual: tag all
Syrphid Fly - Scaeva pyrastri - female Syrphid Fly - Eupeodes? - Scaeva pyrastri - female Syrphid Fly - Eupeodes? - Scaeva pyrastri - female
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Contributed by Phil Huntley-Franck on 24 May, 2009 - 9:59pm
Last updated 27 July, 2009 - 5:23pm

Moved
Moved from Flies.
… Martin Hauser, 25 May, 2009 - 12:02am login or register to post comments

They're hard to get to genus.
There are several sets of syrphids I call "evil twins". In this case, the paring is Euopedes and Scaeva pyrastri. Have you seen this post?



Now, sometimes I can tell the difference, but not here. I do, however, lean a tiny bit towards Scaeva pyrastri.
… Ron Hemberger, 24 May, 2009 - 10:25pm login or register to post comments

 
Hi Ron,
Hadn't seen the post before. Not sure what's meant by "spots", but I do see a difference in the forehead - black markings are quite distinct in the Eupeodes. Also, not quite sure what "the position on the thorax is different" means.

:-P)
… Phil Huntley-Franck, 28 May, 2009 - 5:53pm login or register to post comments

 
My interpretations...
"Spots", he says with great technical precision, are the dots at the end of the light colored lines.

I'm less sure of "position on the thorax" but think that has to do with the location of the spot as it relates to the other end of the light line.

Hope that helps. Not surprised if it doesn't.
… Ron Hemberger, 28 May, 2009 - 6:51pm login or register to post comments

 
Spots and lines -
I've been back to this post about a dozen times. Today satori finally struck, and it makes sense. (I think I need better glasses.)

Thanks, Ron.

:-P)
… Phil Huntley-Franck, 27 July, 2009 - 5:33pm login or register to post comments

 
Yeah, all of a sudden it clicks in.
Then, if you're like me, you may lose it, then regain it again.
… Ron Hemberger, 27 July, 2009 - 7:34pm login or register to post comments

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