All of a Hover

 I've long found Hoverfles fascinating, but even with the generalist filed guides to insects that I've got , I've found that getting to the correct identification rather difficult.

The publication of a new guide, Britain's Hoverflies, by Stuart Ball and Roger Morris, by WILDguides, has made life a little easier. A beautifully produced book, with great photos and keys, and one of a series of terrific guides by this publisher.

 When I saw this chap sunning it's self on a fence in the garden it was time to test by identification skills using my new book.I have to admit I was only half successful. I did manage to get it to the level of the Genus, Eristalis, but wasn't sure of the species.This is a genus of Honey-bee mimics, but of course, unlike bees, they have just two wings.

The second great help is the UK Hoverflies Facebook page. I had joined this at the suggestion of Roger Morris when he put me right on a photo I'd uploaded on Flicker a while ago. Within minutes of posting a photograph I got the answer that this is Eristalis tenax

Little wings

I had a quick look where there normally is a small colony of Small Blue butterflies, near the monument. The weather was a bit variable, but during on brighter moment I did find one.

It wasn't until I had a close look at my photos that I realised that it had something odd about its wings. I presume that they had become distorted during the butterfly emerging from its pupae. The small creases or cuts didn't seem to hinder it flying. As usual the picture of the settled butterfly leaves me wondering why they seem so much bluer when they are flying than when they are settled.

Despite the current worries about the number of bees around, evidently yet another massive drop due to the weather and various diseases that are ravaging colonies, they were quite a few bumblebees feeding. I'm not sure but I think that this is Bombus pratorum. I find then quite difficult to identify.

I rather liked this Hoverfly on the Ox eye Daisy. There are lots of species both resident and immigrants, but I think that this is the common Heliophilus pendulas or Sun Fly.