the first hoverfly of the year appears:
I would have expected Eristalis pertinax, since I usually find these are the first large hoverflies to appear, but this turned out to be Eristalis tenax, the Drone Fly (so called because it resembles the male honey bee). The front face shows a very wide black stripe which is virtually diagnostic at this time of year:
And the moth season continues with the Dotted Border - Agriopis marginaria (guess where its name comes from):
4 comments:
Interesting - my very early hovers usually are E. tenax rather than pertinax - and the 'marmalade hover' Episyrphus balteatus of course.
It's wonderful how a few hours' sun brings these insects out isn't it? Do they hibernate as adults? Where I wonder? You never seem to disturb them, unlike say peacock butterflies or queen wasps.
Mated female Eristalis tenax overwinter in cracks in bark on trees, although I've never found them. The one in my photograph is certainly female, given the large gap between the eyes.
Great to see Spring has finally sprung!
Some nice finds and photos. Not seen a hoverfly yet, but Im sure it won't be long - if the rain ever stops....
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