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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Flies (Diptera) » Aschiza » Syrphid Flies (Syrphidae) » Eristalinae » Eristalini » Helophilus
Photo#315939
Syrphid fly: Helophilus fasciatus - Helophilus - female
Copyright © 2009 Rob Broekhuis

Syrphid fly: Helophilus fasciatus - Helophilus - Female
Allentown, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, USA
August 2, 2009
I know they're almost impossible to sort, but is there any way to narrow it down?
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Contributed by Rob Broekhuis on 5 August, 2009 - 9:53pm
Last updated 26 August, 2009 - 10:56pm

Moved
Moved from ID Request.
… Beatriz Moisset, 26 August, 2009 - 10:56pm login or register to post comments

The stripes say maybe check out
the genus Helophilus here
… john and jane balaban, 5 August, 2009 - 10:14pm login or register to post comments

 
Yes, that's it.
Syrphids are fascinating creatures, and the most common ones are easy to ID. Check the Info page for Toxomerus, being sure to review the chart. There are only three species in most of the U.S., and you can learn to sort through them quickly.

Next, look at Allograpta obliqua, paying attention to the oblique marks towards the end of the abdomen.
… Ron Hemberger, 5 August, 2009 - 10:28pm login or register to post comments

 
It's a girl
Thanks. Based on the ID information at the species page for H. fasciatus, I infer that it's a female.
… Rob Broekhuis, 6 August, 2009 - 5:00pm login or register to post comments

 
A new one on me.
I believe you're right on gender and am glad you're alert at adding that to your post. (Eyes here are different than on many other flies, where the male's eyes touch at the top front. Thanks, Rob, for directing me to the Info page.)
… Ron Hemberger, 6 August, 2009 - 5:13pm login or register to post comments

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