DIPTERA > BRACHYCERA | Higher Diptera

MUSCOMORPHA > ASCHIZA >  Syrphoidea > Syrphidae > Eristalinae > Merodontini

This small tribe comprises three genera with just seven species of which only four are likely to be encountered within my general area.

Eumerus

This is the only genus in the group with more than a single species. Five are listed, although only three are likely to be encountered in my area and only one of these, Eumerus ornatus is actually identifiable from photos and only then if there's a good view of the ocelli. In this species they are positioned farther forward on the frons than in the other species. The feature can cause confusion so the angle of view needs to be right. They can be seen clearly in both of the photos featured below, but it's the shot of the male where you can see that the rear pair are nearly half-way along the eye. In Eumerus funeralis and Eumerus strigatus, which cannot be reliably distinguished without close examination of the distribution of hairs on the underside of the hind femora, the rear ocelli are positioned much closer to the back of the eye. The 'field guide' includes two enlarged photos that show the relative position so, although I didn't doubt the identity, I did have it confirmed via the UK Hoverflies FB group.

The other individual featured here could be recorded as Eumerus sp. or, seeing that it's pretty clear that it's not Eumerus ornatus, it could be labelled Eumerus funeralis / strigatus.

Sept.24