Thread subject: Diptera.info :: Syrphidae (Sphaerophoria loewi or ruppelli) ?

Posted by gneve on 30-11-2014 17:58
#2

As the antennas are black, it seems that this is S. loewi.
Stubbs & Falk (British hoverflies, 2nd ed, 2002) states for loewi : "the black antennae serve to separate this species from rueppellii, but it should be noted that some specimens of the latter species can have rather dark antennae. There should be very little doubt in separating loewi from rueppellii on the basis of male genitalia, but the orange legs and markings of loewi are a useful field character compared with rueppellii, where these are yellow"
So if you want confirmation, you need the genitalia of the male...

Edited by gneve on 30-11-2014 17:58