Syrphus females - ribesii versus torvus

Not just hairy eyes, but also the legs and head patterns vary.

I'll try to add vitripennis to this if I remember. As I recall ribesii all yellow hind femora is a good unique character though so I suspect vitripennis may resemble torvus in that respect.

Note the distinct widow's peak on ribesii, which seems to be a "cleaner" looking fly all round.

April Anthomyiidae

Two half hour sessions sweeping flies from sunny cypresses produced a number of anthomyiids, including Paradelia intersecta apparently new to Fife.

This fly is significantly smaller than Botanophila fugax (in the male certainly) and has a very small abdomen - shorter than the thorax. It also has a distinctly shaped "beaked" genital capsule . See photos below

2 x Paradelia intersecta - note "beaked" shape of capsule

Size comparison Botanophila fugax (top)

Paradelia intersecta m.

Paradelia intersecta terminalia

Mycophaga testacera f.

Anthomyia procellaris m.

Anthomyia procellaris terminalia

Hydrotaea dentipes, Dalgety bay, 23/04/2018

Hydrotaea dentipes, m.
Dalgety Bay, Ross Plantation
NT1683
23/04/2018

Muscidae :  Azeliinae : Azeliini : Hydrotaea : H. dentipes (fauna-eu.org)

One of the most widespread Holarctic muscids ("Muscidae Central Europe"), Facultative carnivorous larvae in carrion or dung. Adults may overwinter but egg laying in March noted and 1 week larva/2week pupation. This one probably emerged fresh.

Has black halteres and discal curves forward gently to apex. Front femur characteristic of subgenus Hydrotaeoides (Skidmore), dentipes group, in which the toothed femur and curved discal is a shared. character. Dark coloration and curved discal makes it recall a Muscina at first glance

Bibio johannis, Dalgety Bay, 17/04/2018

Bibio johannis, m.
Dalgety Bay
NT1683
18/04/2018

A few around, flying in the low coastal grassy areas

Egle rhinotmeta, Dalgety Bay, 16/04/2018

From beside the willows, of course