It is the closest match I could find, but then when comparing with the pics in BF, there are some differences like the yellow bands are connected with vertical middle stripes, also the part under the head has more vertical bands and doesn't look as shiny like in other pics.
There is also a mark on the outer sides of the wings I don't find in the others
I took the pic about 2 weeks ago on some early blooming crocuses..
another view, it must be a female as the eyes are seperated..
You have got it right bonitin, Episyrphus balteatus. They do vary in size and colour, there is a dark form which I have had too. The stripes on the thorax are typical, they do look more shiny when freshly hatched but some will be overwintering and the colour dulls with age.
I see one occasionally over winter on mild sunny days, this one I took on the 29th January which was a mild day but the sun wasn't out. Strangely the crocus was open, they usually close with no sun but the higer temperature may have encouraged it.
Mine looks like a male.
It has darker colour on the wing edges too.
Thanks wallaby!
My crocuses didn't open at all even though most are up since about a month. It is sad as the flowers look discouraged and flop over. They came up much too early, at least in my case where the sun (if there is any!) only reaches a few.
The pic was taken in my brother's garden.
But some of mine did open just a little when the weather was mild, not enough though for attracting insects...
I would have thought that yours was a female too as the eyes don't really join together ?
On some flies the male's eyes are just a little bigger and closer together than the females, without meeting in the middle.
I can't check on other E. balteatus that I had pics of (lost them!), but I seem to remember some did have eyes meeting. Whether these vary on this fly I don't know, as this is a different form, but the eyes on mine do look a little closer than on yours.
Yes, it's true that the eyes on yours are closer together..
But then I find it a bit confusing though..
I have some pics where the eyes are obviously meeting;
another;
But then is this one a female or male ?
Your last one is a female, these are the more typical pattern forms and the male's eyes leave no doubt. If I could have checked my pics I might have seen the difference in the darker form, I'm not sure if I had pics of both male and female of that one.
Another difference I have noticed on the typical form is the female has a dark triangle on the tail, male's don't. That is difficult to see on the dark form, I sometimes think these must be a subspecies but they are included in the species as a 'form'.
I have also had some dull brown smaller ones.
I see it more clear now! Thanks for the explanation!
