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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Flies (Diptera) » "Aschiza" » Hover Flies (Syrphidae) » Eristalinae » Eristalini » Eristalina » Drone Flies (Eristalis) » Subgenus Eoseristalis (Eristalis Subgenus Eoseristalis) » Eristalis arbustorum
Photo#5136
Hover Fly- Eristalis, likely arbustorum - Eristalis arbustorum
Copyright © 2004 John Fox

Hover Fly- Eristalis, likely arbustorum - Eristalis arbustorum
Northern, Virginia, USA
July 18, 2004
A couple sites show this species:

http://www.bioimages.org.uk/HTML/T681.HTM
http://www.gardensafari.net/english/picpages/eristalis_arbustorum.htm

It seems unlikely to get 100% certainty just with pictures, but Eristalis sp. is OK with me. Thanks to Bugeric and Richard Leung for pointing me in the right direction.

I had a question if anyone wants to help a beginner. The first site has two specimens. The first is like this shot and the eyes meet cleanly at the top. The second is like my "one anvil" fly and the eye structure is different, there is something at the top between the eyes. Is this within the bell curve of normal variation in a fly species?

Thanks again for the help, John
tag · login or register to post comments
Contributed by John Fox on 22 July, 2004 - 5:40pm
Last updated 19 April, 2007 - 2:56pm

Moved
Moved from Eristalis.
… Martin Hauser, 19 April, 2007 - 2:56pm login or register to post comments

Eristalis eyes
The difference in the shape and size of the eyes is sexual. The males have bigger eyes that meet along the midline. So, that is how you tell the sexes apart in many syrphid flies.
… Beatriz Moisset, 15 November, 2004 - 6:57pm login or register to post comments

 
Thanks Beatriz
John
… John Fox, 22 November, 2004 - 9:55am login or register to post comments

Maybe a drone fly?
Possibly Eristalis tenax?
… Richard Leung, 22 July, 2004 - 9:30pm login or register to post comments

 
Eristalis sp.
Not a drone fly, but in the same genus I'm pretty sure.
… Eric R. Eaton, 23 July, 2004 - 1:27pm login or register to post comments

 
That's great, thank you both
These are very common in my yard. A couple (tiny) pics of E. arbustorum looked very good. I will do more research later.
Thanks again, John
… John Fox, 23 July, 2004 - 2:34pm login or register to post comments

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