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Not Lepidoptera (Bees)
Posted: Mon Feb 23, 2009 11:53 pm
by eccles
This is one of at least six honey bees gathering pollen from crocuses in the local wildlife park this afternoon. No butterflies today though.
Taken with Sony A700 with 70-210 F4 'Beercan' and Canon 500D close up lens.
Re: Not Lepidoptera (Bees)
Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2009 12:18 am
by Dave McCormick
Very nice bee pic...Nice to see the weather improving and letting the bees/butterflies and other insects out. Reminds me, I gotta check the hive of honeybees in orchard nearby to see if there is life in it. Been there for as long as I can remember.
Re: Not Lepidoptera (Bees)
Posted: Sun Mar 01, 2009 5:42 pm
by Matsukaze
First bumblebee of the year - a queen Bombus terrestris buzzing loudly around a patch of gorse bushes, nectaring as she went.
Re: Not Lepidoptera (Bees)
Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2009 12:19 pm
by Deano
Hi all.
I've seen several of these insects about recently, but can anyone tell me what they are? Looks like a honey bee with a few genes from some species of fly thrown in for a good mixture!
Regards
Deano.
Re: Not Lepidoptera (Bees)
Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2009 12:34 pm
by eccles
It's a hoverfly (bees have antennae), many of which are bee or wasp mimics obtaining some degree of protection from predactors due to their appearance. I have no idea which species this is.
Re: Not Lepidoptera (Bees)
Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2009 2:16 pm
by Susie
Looks like it is carrying a couple of passengers too.
Re: Not Lepidoptera (Bees)
Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2009 2:41 pm
by Deano
Thank you eccles for identifying my hoverfly. I shall remember what you said about bees having antennae.
Regards
Deano
Re: Not Lepidoptera (Bees)
Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2009 2:54 pm
by Dave McCormick
First bumble bee of the year for me, a queen Bombus terrestris flying past my house.
Re: Not Lepidoptera (Bees)
Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2009 5:07 pm
by Gruditch
Are you sure Eccles, looks like a Bee to me.
![Confused :?](./images/smilies/icon_confused.gif)
I haven't seen any hoverflies about yet, I think the antennae is pointing this way, your old eyes are going
Gruditch
Re: Not Lepidoptera (Bees)
Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2009 6:53 pm
by Dave McCormick
Think it is a hoverfly. Is it Eristalis similis or one type of Eoseristalis hoverfly?
Re: Not Lepidoptera (Bees)
Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2009 7:10 pm
by Gruditch
No idea, I'll take your word for it, not good at bee's,
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
Not long now till the Bee-flies turn up, to add to the confusion.
Gruditch
Re: Not Lepidoptera (Bees)
Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2009 7:36 pm
by Susie
It is easy to tell if it is a hover fly or not just by looking at the eyes. Even with the bee mimics the hover fly eyes are really big.
Re: Not Lepidoptera (Bees)
Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2009 7:58 pm
by Deano
Now come on everybody - bee or hoverfly - I'm
really confused now you know!
Regards
Deano
Re: Not Lepidoptera (Bees)
Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2009 8:10 pm
by Pete Eeles
Looks like a hoverfly to me
One distinguishing feature is that a hoverfly has one pair of wings, whereas a bee or wasp has 2 pairs.
Also - hoverflies do have antennae - they're just reduced.
Here's a nice source:
http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/mag/art ... flies.html
Cheers,
- Pete
Re: Not Lepidoptera (Bees)
Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2009 8:12 pm
by Gruditch
Sorry my fault Deano, I was just surprised to see a hover-fly out and about, so early in the year.
Gruditch
Re: Not Lepidoptera (Bees)
Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2009 8:35 pm
by Mikhail
Dave is right. It's a hoverfly in the genus Eristalis, well known mimics of honeybees. There are several similar species.
Misha
Re: Not Lepidoptera (Bees)
Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2009 8:39 pm
by Deano
Thank you all. I've certainly learned a lot from posting that photo!
Kind regards
Deano.
Re: Not Lepidoptera (Bees)
Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2009 9:12 pm
by Susie
Ah, but does anyone know what the parasites are?
![Laughing :lol:](./images/smilies/icon_lol.gif)
Re: Not Lepidoptera (Bees)
Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2009 9:27 pm
by Susie
I got a snap of a hover yesterday too. The sun was shining then which seems impossible with the horrible wet windy weather we have now.
![Image](http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e235/Lizzysue3/IMG_4016.jpg)
Re: Not Lepidoptera (Bees)
Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2009 12:13 am
by Matsukaze
I think both hoverflies are Eristalini, with a good candidate being Eristalis tenax...but this is my first try at identifying hoverflies, other than the very easy (and extremely colourful) Volucella species.