Possible solitary bee - Platycheirus

Cropping

This image would benefit from some cropping. Remember that only you and the editors can see the full size image; everybody else misses the details. Also, bugs show a lot better when browsing through thumbnails if the image is cropped to emphasize the bug.

… Beatriz Moisset, 16 February, 2010 - 9:48am

Moved

Moved from ID Request.

… Will Chatfield-Taylor, 9 February, 2010 - 12:26pm

Its a fly.

Probably a Hover Fly in family Syrphidae:

There are a lot of people on the site that should be able to tell you for sure, and maybe what genus its in if I have the correct family.

… Natalie Hernandez, 7 February, 2010 - 12:46am

Natalie's ID to family is good.

Platycheirus sp. We have an expert on these who visits from time to time, so ID to species may be possible. Compared to many other syrphids, this genus has very delicate-looking legs.

This specimen is a female. With most syrphids, large eyes that touch at the top front denote a male.

Theresa, there are a lot of such colorful, small flies aloft in California now, so keep a look-out. They do love flowers and can often be seen hovering in shafts of sunlight in otherwise darkened areas. Good hunting!

… Ron Hemberger, 7 February, 2010 - 2:38am