Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada
 

Register · Log In
HomeGuideID RequestRecentFrassForumsDonateHelp
Clickable Guide
Moths Butterflies Flies Caterpillars Flies Dragonflies Flies Mantids Cockroaches Bees and Wasps Walkingsticks Earwigs Ants Termites Hoppers and Kin Hoppers and Kin Beetles True Bugs Fleas Grasshoppers and Kin Ticks Spiders Scorpions Centipedes Millipedes

Calendar
BugGuide Gathering
Pack Forest
Washington State
July 10-12, 2009
Details...

Photos from the 2009 gathering
 
Photos from the 2008 gathering in Tennessee
 
Photos from the 2007 gathering in Minnesota

TaxonomyBrowseInfoImagesLinksBooksData
Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Flies (Diptera) » Aschiza » Syrphid Flies (Syrphidae) » Eristalinae » Eristalini » Helophilus
Photo#34403
Syrphid fly from Iowa - question on genus - Helophilus - female
Copyright © 2005 Curtis M. Eckerman

Syrphid fly from Iowa - question on genus - Helophilus - Female
Ankeny, Polk County, Iowa, USA
September 15, 2005
I believe this is a syrphid fly of the genus syrphus but I am not sure. Would appreciate if someone could confirm
tag · login or register to post comments
Contributed by Curtis M. Eckerman on 12 October, 2005 - 12:30pm
Last updated 19 November, 2009 - 8:11am

Fly
I belive this belong to genus Helophilus. Gerard will know for certain. See here:

… Matthew Roth, 12 October, 2005 - 1:09pm login or register to post comments

 
Right!
Matthew is right, it is a member of the genus Helophilus.
Greetings,
Gerard Pennards
… Gerard Pennards, 12 October, 2005 - 2:52pm login or register to post comments

 
Helophilus
And it is a female. They seem to have a special weakness for flowers of this color.
… Beatriz Moisset, 12 October, 2005 - 2:53pm login or register to post comments

 
Careful!!
Helophilus is one of the few genera of syrphids in which the eyes of the males don't touch! They are a bit closer together than in the females, but without comparison it is difficult to tell!
Greetings,
Gerard Pennards
… Gerard Pennards, 12 October, 2005 - 3:14pm login or register to post comments

 
Thanks
For pointing that up.
… Beatriz Moisset, 12 October, 2005 - 3:15pm login or register to post comments

 
The comparison!! :-))
If you compare the picture of this specimen with the one that is in Matthew's answer, you will see the difference. This picture shown here is indeed a female, and Matthew's picture shows a male! You can see that the amount of space between the eyes on top of the head differs. (At least I hope you all can see that! :-))
Greetings,
Gerard Pennards
… Gerard Pennards, 12 October, 2005 - 4:08pm login or register to post comments

Comment viewing options
Select your preferred way to display the comments and click 'Save settings' to activate your changes.

Disclaimer: Dedicated naturalists volunteer their time and resources here to provide this service. We strive to provide accurate information, but we are mostly just amateurs attempting to make sense of a diverse natural world. If you need expert professional advice, contact your local extension office.

Contributors own the copyright to and are solely responsible for contributed content.
Click the contributor's name for licensing and usage information.
Everything else copyright © 2003-2009 Iowa State University, unless otherwise noted.

Bugguide is hosted by Iowa State University Entomology.

Printer Friendly Version 		Terms of Use
Privacy Policy
Site Map
Contact