David Element
Wildlife
Photography and Digital Video Images
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Flies 17 – Batman Hoverflies
BATMAN HOVERFLY Myathropa florea (f)
BATMAN HOVERFLY Myathropa florea (f)
BATMAN HOVERFLY Myathropa florea (f)
BATMAN HOVERFLY Myathropa florea (f)
BATMAN HOVERFLY Myathropa florea (f)
- Although
Myathropa
florea is relatively easy to recognise
by its colour pattern this is the exception rather than the rule amongst
hoverflies as there are so many superficially similar species. This fly
has recently been allocated the vernacular name of ‘Batman Hoverfly’ in reference to the rather variable dark
thoracic markings. Any resemblance to the most commonly displayed Batman
logo is at best tenuous and superficial and this indicates that this nomenclature
is perhaps being used to give a greater public accessibility and
popularity to these insects – which is undoubtedly a good thing at a time
when it is becoming increasingly important to identify wildlife
accurately, to engage with the general public and encourage ‘citizen
science’. Close scrutiny of the structural features and comparison with
entomological identification keys is essential for the authoritative
identification of the majority of flies - and in total there are about
7,000 species to separate in the UK alone! This may not be the end of the
story as there are still unresolved classifications, even in the British
fly fauna, one of the most exhaustively studied groups of insects. The
total is flexible as additional species may arrive from continental Europe
or elsewhere by natural or artificial means and others may become extinct.
As can be imagined the process of recording and monitoring the
distribution of British flies is the preserve of a select number of expert
entomologists.
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