hover fly? - Hypocritanus fascipennis

Moved

Moved from Flies.

… Greg W. Lasley, 25 October, 2013 - 9:43am

thinking, Ocyptamus

… v belov, 24 October, 2013 - 2:44pm

Good thought, =v=

Greg, do you have a view showing wing pattern from above? It might well earn a species ID.

… Ron Hemberger, 24 October, 2013 - 3:05pm

Ocyptamus fascipennis looks l

Ocyptamus fascipennis looks like a possibility?

… Greg W. Lasley, 24 October, 2013 - 3:21pm

Yes, I agree. Let's call that an ID.

The wing pattern thing works well here, but not with most syrphids. I independently came to the same conclusion you did, Greg.

These are nice, crisp shots, apparently from a cooperative subject. With any insect, syrphids in particular, go for a shot straight from above. Wings and pattern on back (while not so important on this species) are what you're after.

… Ron Hemberger, 24 October, 2013 - 3:25pm

Thanks…I will remember that

Thanks…I will remember that on these flies. I'm mainly an odonate person and in most cases dorsal shots are the least helpful with that group and lateral views, shaprly focused, are probably the best.
http://www.greglasley.net/dragonnoramerix.html
I'm always telling folks on iNaturalist and elsewhere to NOT take so many dorsal shots of odonates and get some decent lateral views. Goes to show that each groups is different when coming up with enough ID characters to try to ID it.

… Greg W. Lasley, 24 October, 2013 - 3:50pm

I think you'll find this article interesting wrt what to shoot

The Bug Guide Take:
http://bugguide.net/node/view/258535

… Ron Hemberger, 24 October, 2013 - 5:05pm

Thanks Ron, much appreciated.

… Greg W. Lasley, 24 October, 2013 - 3:27pm

My pleasure. Nice working with you, in real time even!

… Ron Hemberger, 24 October, 2013 - 3:30pm

adding the only other image I

adding the only other image I have. Thanks for looking!

… Greg W. Lasley, 24 October, 2013 - 3:17pm

The fly would hover about wai

The fly would hover about waist level, and when my friend held out a finger, the fly would perch on his finger briefly. It did this several times.

… Greg W. Lasley, 24 October, 2013 - 3:19pm