Eristalis inticaria - my first record of the furry hoverfly.

[Paul]

I believe this is my first record of this hoverfly. Eristalis inticaria female. (The furry hoverfly).

According to Nature Spot, this large hoverfly is unlike the other UK Eristalis species in being a furry bumble bee mimic. (The males are dark with a reddish-brown tail) whilst the female (seen here) has a white tail and is somewhat larger.

Nature Spot also says this species always has a yellow scutellum.

Paul.

[kev7d]

I have been crawling around on my hands and knees in 31c temperatures today in an effort to get some bugs.  I understand the effort that you bug fans put into this now.   Blooming grasshoppers. You get close and the darned things jump off.  

Nice shots Paul.  

[Paul]

LOL, thank you Kev m8.

As for grassies - been there seen it done it bought the t-shirt!  Hehehe.

Paul.

[kev7d]

What I find hard is getting the blooming bugs in focus.  When I get back to the uk and see my efforts on the bigger screen I think my keeper rate will be poor.   But I think I have nailed a decent grasshopper shot.   Sauterelle is what the locals call them.  

[Paul]

It's all about stealth isn't it? They go so suddenly!

I'm sure you'll have plenty keepers buddy.

Paul.

[Clicker]

Yer  learn summat  new every day on here  don't  ya?  Interesting set Paul ...thanks..

[Paul]

Thank you kindly Clicker 

Paul.

[Ryewolf]

Wow, that really is a fuzzy hoverfly, a very good bee mimic. Don't think I've seen one, but there are lot of hoverfly species...

It really is all about patience, moving slowly and watching were your shadows are, a lot of luck (sometimes) Kev, and like Paul with grasshoppers or froghoppers for that matter, been there, done that, bought the t-shirt.

When I go bug hunting I reckon on about 1 or 2 out of every 10 shots is worth keeping/posting, if I got a penny for the amount of tmes I'd spotted an interesting bug, spent a while getting closer only to have it walk/fly out of shot just before I pressed the camera shutter I could probably retire by now...

[kev7d]

I am on a steep learning curve to get anywhere near bug shots presented here by Rye and Paul.   

[Kobione]

Brilliant set Paul, and that really is a furry beast!

[Paul]

4 hours ago, Kobione said:

Brilliant set Paul, and that really is a furry beast!

A bit of a novelty in the hover world from what I have read...

Paul.