David Element
Wildlife
Photography and Digital Video Images
_________________________________________________________________________________________________ Flies 1 – Grey-backed
Snout-Hoverflies
GREY-BACKED SNOUT-HOVERFLY Rhingia rostrata
(f)
GREY-BACKED SNOUT-HOVERFLY Rhingia rostrata
(f)
GREY-BACKED SNOUT-HOVERFLY Rhingia rostrata
(f)
GREY-BACKED SNOUT-HOVERFLY Rhingia rostrata
(f)
GREY-BACKED SNOUT-HOVERFLY Rhingia rostrata
(f)
GREY-BACKED SNOUT-HOVERFLY Rhingia rostrata
(f)
·
The fortunes of the
formerly uncommon Grey-backed Snout-hoverfly Rhingia rostrata
have improved recently. This species seems to be easier to find in early autumn
than it is earlier in the year and it is attracted (with many other insects) to
Common
Ivy Helix hedera, so these factors may be useful
pointers when searching for this fly. The female shown above was conspicuously bright
orange when seen feeding on Ivy flowers. An absence of dark markings on the
abdomen will enable this fly to be separated from the similar Common Snout-hoverfly
R. campestris. The extended snout (rostrum)
of the aptly named R. rostrata
is comparatively short (although still very conspicuous) and the thoracic markings
of R. campestris are similar but dull and less clearly defined,
appearing to be shiny black rather than grey.
- There are approximately 280 named
hoverfly species on the current British list of about 7,060 flies and
there is some fluidity in the exact total as genetic studies have been
revealing additional anatomically almost identical species that might have
been hiding in plain sight. There are also occasional additions to the
British list following migration from Continental Europe (anthropogenic
climate-change is influencing range-expansions further northwards but
there may be associated losses of
species with requirements for cooler climatic conditions in the North of
the British Isles) or, in consequence of, accidental importation in
produce. Many hoverflies are similar in appearance and they can be
difficult to identify - indeed it is often easier to sex these insects
than it is to identify them to species level. The eyes of most male
hoverflies touch at the top of the head but there are exceptions. The
adults of some of the rarest species are seldom seen even by expert
entomologists and therefore their life-histories and conservation
requirements are poorly understood, and by inference probably highly
specialised. Although many hoverflies exhibit Batesian mimicry by closely
resembling bees or wasps (and in some cases sounding convincingly like
them), they are entirely harmless, and they cannot sting or bite. Many are
useful pollinators too.
PUBLICATION:
David has published a book (May 2012) entitled 'In My Natural Element... Hoverflies' (66 plates, 66 photographs). This landscape format book contains photographs of 56 hoverfly species taken in Britain and Europe including colour forms of some bee-mimics. It is available for purchase at: https://www.bobbooks.co.uk/bookshop/search/1/15/45089
RECOMMENDED REFERENCES:
- 'British Hoverflies', Alan E. Stubbs & Steven J. Falk, BENHS, 1983, ISBN 0 9502891 3 2 (hardback), ISBN 0 9502891 4 0 (softback) plus revisions/supplements
- 'Hoverflies of Surrey', Roger K. A. Morris, Surrey Wildlife Trust, 1998. ISBN 0 9526065 3 4 - see: http://www.surreywildlifetrust.co.uk/ for further information about the Surrey Wildlife Atlas series.
- 'Provisional Atlas of British Hoverflies (Diptera, Syrphiudae)', Stuart G Ball & Roger K. A. Morris, Biological Records Centre, 2000, ISBN 1-870393-54-6
- 'Danmarks Svirrefluer' (Diptera: Syrphidae) Danmarks Dyreliv BD 6., Ernst Torp, Apollo Books 1994. ISBN 87-88757-28-5; ISSN 0109-7164
- 'British Soldierflies and their Allies', Alan Stubbs & Martin Drake, BENHS, 2001, ISBN 1-899935-04-5
- 'British Wildlife', British Wildlife Publishing, ISSN 0958-0956 contains regular Diptera reports.
- An illustrated article entitled "An Introduction to British hoverflies and the Hoverfly Recording Scheme" by Roger Morris and Stuart Ball appears in 'British Wildlife' Volume 14 Number 1, October 2002.
RECOMMENDED WEBSITES:
· Cyrille Dussaix's website 'Insecta Diptera Syrphidae de France' http://perso.wanadoo.fr/cyrille.dussaix/ provides useful information about French Hoverflies.
· Bastiaan Wakkie's website http://www.syrphidae.com/index.php provides useful information about Dutch Hoverflies.
· Steven Falk’s web site (February 2012) at: http://www.stevenfalk.co.uk. Steven is a well-known wildlife illustrator and photographer and a first-rate professional field naturalist with an extensive list of publications under his belt. His artistic talent first came to the fore when he produced the colour plates for the excellent 'British Hoverflies' (BENHS, 1983) and it is gratifying to be able to report that some of these pictures and further examples of his work should be available for purchase via Steven's web site shortly. Steven’s comprehensively illustrated Flickr pages are an invaluable source of information for anyone with an interest in Entomology: https://www.flickr.com/photos/63075200@N07/collections/.
· Dipterists’ Forum: https://www.dipterists.org.uk/ .
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3,
4,
5,
6,
7,
8,
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10,
11,
12,
13,
14,
15,
16,
17,
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44,
45,
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47,
48, 49,
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57,
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61, 62,
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86,
87,
88,
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