Hoverfly (Allograpta obliqua) or exotica? - Scaeva affinis

Moved

Moved from Dasysyrphus pacificus.

… Martin Hauser, 7 April, 2017 - 2:56pm

Moved

Moved from Syrphid Flies.

… Kelsey J.R.P. Byers, 23 March, 2014 - 2:46pm

2 more views

Hello, I've added 2 more views that may assist you. Getting a good one of the wing didn't happen. Thanks. Ken.

… kaeagles, 23 March, 2014 - 11:46am

No worries! Those are quite

No worries! Those are quite helpful. So it looks like Scaeva pyrastri (eyes haired, frons yellow), but the wing vein does look straight to me. That makes me think Dasysyrphus (Scaeva's is quite obviously curved upwards). Going through the key to Dasysyrphus, this is Dasysyrphus pacificus.

Those extra pictures really helped - thanks for adding them! Wonderful shots.

… Kelsey J.R.P. Byers, 23 March, 2014 - 2:46pm

Thanks

Kelsey thanks for your help and positive ID.

… kaeagles, 23 March, 2014 - 7:24pm

Moved

Moved from ID Request.

… Kelsey J.R.P. Byers, 23 March, 2014 - 4:10am

Not Allograpta, though it is

Not Allograpta, though it is a syrphid. It looks more like Scaeva pyrastri to me given the abdominal markings (the white marks on the top, not the sides), but I can't be completely certain without a view of the top or ideally the wing. Could also be Dasysyrphus.

Compare

for Scaeva...

This is a female - the eyes don't touch or come close to touching at the top.

As a nomenclature tip, "species" is the usual term for a member of a genus - so the genus Canis (dogs, wolves, coyotes, jackals, etc) contains the species Canis lupus (wolf) as well as Canis latrans (coyote). Canis lupus has two subspecies, Canis lupus familiaris (pet dog) and Canis lupus dingo (dingo from Australia). Above that level is family, which is what the hoverflies are (family Syrphidae), and above that is order, which is what flies are (order Diptera).

Wonderful picture, by the way - very striking!

… Kelsey J.R.P. Byers, 23 March, 2014 - 4:09am