fat syrphid

I'm looking into all of theses syrphids.. but I think you could possibly make a career out of visiting one of these alpine meadows and do nothing but catch syrphid flies - I photographed more than the 5 I posted today and they all appear to be subtly (and sometimes unsubtly) different..

comments (3)

Christine Young

Lion

Cute! Might be Blera scitula. Posted 3 years ago
1. morpheme
  
  Lion
  
  I think you are totally right - one of the photos on BG mentions "pale shoulders" as a key trait and I definitely see those as well as the totally matching abdominal pattern and the comment that they are often found at high altitudes up here in the PNW. Thanks! it probably would have taken me forever to get that deep in! Posted 3 years ago, modified 3 years ago
2. 1. Christine Young
    
    Lion
    
    Great! You're welcome. :) Posted 3 years ago

The Western Wood Fly

"Blera scitula", the Western Wood Fly, is an uncommon species of syrphid fly first officially described by Williston in 1882. Hoverflies get their names from the ability to remain nearly motionless while in flight The adults are also know as flower flies for they are commonly found around and on the flowers from which they get both enegy-giving nectar and protein rich pollen. The larvae of Blera are of the rat-tailed type feeding on exuding sap or in the rot holes of trees.

Info 1 0

Similar species: True Flies

Species identified by morpheme