Article by Tim Corner
Following on from Vicky Hale's successful Dragonfly Recording Pack, BRERC and the Hoverfly Group have decided to set about producing a similar recording pack for Hoverflies, with one big difference; there are many species which the identification of taxes even the experts. To produce a recording pack aimed at the public, of the species that occur in our area, would probably result in many records of inadvertently misidentified hoverflies. We have therefore chosen to produce a Hoverfly Recording Pack for a few select species that will be possible for most people to record.
It is often stated that there are only a handful or so specialists in the country experienced enough to accurately identify the many species we have. However, there are a handful of species that could, with help, be more easily identified. Nobody becomes an expert without starting. The comparative lack of experts means there will be a comparative lack of records. A few people cannot routinely comb the whole country all the time. I believe the public should not be excluded from contributing to our overall knowledge of hoverflies just because they are a ‘difficult’ species group. It is largely due to the sheer number and effort of butterfly recorders over the years, including those who could only identify the most common species that has enabled the production of the ‘Butterflies of the Bristol Region’.
We have now begun the process to produce a guide to some selected hoverflies found in our region. The purpose is to encourage hoverfly recording by anyone, whilst acknowledging the need for expert identification of the more difficult species. The species we have selected are:
Volcella zonaria, V. inanis, V. bombylans,
V. pellucens
Episyrphus balteatus
Eristalis tenax, E. pertinax, E. arbustorum,
E. nemorum, E. intricarius
Chrysotoxum bicinctum
Leucozona lucorum, L. glaucia
Scaeva pyrastri
Xanthogramma pedissequum
Cheilosia illustrata
Rhingia campestris
Portevinia maculata
Helophilis pendulus, H. trivittatus, H. hybridus
Merodon equestris
Syritta pipiens
Xylota segnis, X. xanthocnema, X. sylvarum
Baccha elongata
Crysotoxum festivum
The next step is to produce pictures and text. If you have any comments regarding the species selected please let us know.