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Photo#82501
Eristalinus aeneus - female

Eristalinus aeneus - Female
Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Gardens, Claremont, Los Angeles County, California, USA
October 3, 2006
Size: ~12 mm
Taking nectar in Senecio flaccidus.

I don't know what the distinguishing characters are between E. aeneus, and E. sepulchralis.
Perhaps Paul Beuk, or Gerard Pennard will take a look at this. Also, I wonder how this fly got into an arid situation such as RSABG, since it seems to like (in the larval stage) decaying, wet, organic matter.

Outstanding photo!
I believe this is the same as a fly I just photographed in Sunnyvale, CA. I was under the impression that mine was larger than 12mm, though. I would have guessed maybe 15-16mm. On the other hand, it did not stand still to be measured!

aeneus it is
Hello Hartmut,
It should be Eristalinus aeneus, because until now E. sepulchralis doesn't occur in the Nearctic (the ones standing in the guide as E. sepulchralis are not!). However, E. aeneus and Eristalinus taeniops have been dragged in from the Old world, so E. spulchralis might be next! Distinguishing characters for females of these two species are the tergites 2 and 3, and the eyes.
In E. aeneus tergite 2 and 3 are shiny, and the eyes are bare on the lower half. In E. sepulchralis tergite 2 and 3 have a dull spot in the middle, and the eyes are hairy all over. In this case we don't see the hairy eyes very well, but we can see the shiny tergites 2 and 3, which would make this one a female of Eristalinus aeneus!
And these flies are strong fliers, so you can find them everywhere!
Greetings, Gerard

 
Thanks, Gerard,
for all of the information. Your last comment would explain how it arrived in the gardens.

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