CLOSED: Is this a young european wasp please?

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sulkyrob Melbourne, Australia Nov 04, 2009

Photo'ed this on a Geum in our garden at Ballarat, Australia. It was much smaller than the regular wasps we have around - about 1cm long - and the markings on the back are a little different. Is it just an immature wasp or something different?

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suunto Sinks Grove, WV Nov 04, 2009

This is not a wasp at all, but a fly in the family Syrphidae. Often called flower flies or hover flies, many species are excellent bee or wasp mimics.

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sulkyrob Melbourne, Australia Nov 04, 2009

Brilliant - thank you "suunto"

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suunto Sinks Grove, WV Nov 04, 2009

For some examples of Australian species, see http://tinyurl.com/y9hfdk9

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kennedyh Churchill, Victoria, Australia(Zone 10a) Nov 05, 2009

It looks to me very like Melangyna viridiceps which is one of the commonest hover-flies in Victoria: http://davesgarden.com/guides/bf/showimage/1097/

Kennedy

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sulkyrob Melbourne, Australia Nov 05, 2009

Thanks Kennedy - that's spot on!

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