Wildlife Review 2025: Hoverflies (Syphidae)

A distinctive family of true flies (Diptera), as such are reviewed separately to the main fly review. Many species resemble bees and wasps, some being very effective mimics. The majority are nectar feeders and can readily be found in the reserve's flower meadows. Peak time for many is late spring/early summer. A better than average year with 62 species, compared with 57 in 2024, including four new for the Recording Area, although numbers of droneflies (Eristalis) in particular were down, presumably as a result of a dry winter/spring affecting their aquatic larvae stage.

Marmalade Hoverfly Episyrphus balteatus 28th October - Alan Keatley

The first of the year, not unexpectedly, was Marmalade Hoverfly Episyrphus balteatus on 14th January, at times the commonest hoverfly, although numbers were lower this year. Another common species, Migrant Broadtail Eupeodes corollae from 3rd February and the equally common Stripe-faced Dronefly Eristalis tenax from 6th February. Less numerous the first Tapered Dronefly E. pertinax were noted from 22nd March, the same date as the first Glass-winged Syrphus vitripennis and Hairy-eyed Syrphus S. torvus were on the wing, all nectaring on flowering Alexanders. Also active in March, Furry Dronefly E. intricaria and Yarrow Blacklet Cheilosia vernalis on 24th, Slender Melanostoma M. scalare from 25th, Grey-spotted Boxer Platycheirus albimanus from 27th and Spring Epistrophe E. eligans and Common Tiger Hoverfly Helophilus pendulus from 31st March.

Stripe-faced Droneflies Eristalis tenax & Hairy-eyed Syrphus S. torvus 26th February - Alan Keatley 

Into April first emergence dates included Lunuled Broadtail Eupeodes luniger on 5th, Parsley Blacklet Cheilosia pagana on 7th, with Humming Syrphus S. ribesii, Batman Hoverfly Myathropa florea and Common Twist-tail Sphaerophoria scripta, a common sight with from 14th. Gossamer Hoverfly Baccha elongata preferring shaded areas from 21st, with Stripe-backed Fleckwing Dasysyrphus albostiatus noted on 22nd with a Buff-tailed Bearfly Croirhina floccosa a good find on 27th. The colourful wasp mimic Superb Ant-hill Hoverfly Xanthogramma pedissequum was first noted on the 27th and the honeydew feeder, Orange-belted Leafwalker Xylota segnis found on leaves rather than flowers from 31st.

Lunuled Broadtail Eupeodes luniger 9th October - Alan Keatley

Reaching peak times for hoverflies in May with many found on the water-dropwort in flower, Smudge-winged Clubtail Neoascia podagrica from 1st, Common Flatface Pipizella viduata on 10th, Burdock Blacklet Cheilosia impressa and Pied Plumehorn Volucella pellucens from 14th, Bumblebee Blacklet Cheilosia illustrata, Common Pithead Pipiza noctiluca, Bumblebee Plumehorn Volucella bombylans and a Stripe-backed Glimmer Riponnensia splendens on 19th, along with the first new species, Banded Meliscaeva M. cinctella. Finally, Yellow-barred Peat Hoverfly Sericomyia silentis was noted from 24th.

Pied Plumehorn Volucella pellucens 14th July - Alan Keatley

Stripe-backed Glimmer Riponnensia splendens 1st September - Alan Keatley 

Into summer new emergences included Bolete Blacklet Cheilosia scutellata, a frequent umbellifer visitor from 5th June, Twin-spotted Boxer Platycheirus rosarum and Golden-tailed Leafwalker Xylota sylvarum on 10th June, Narcissus Fly Merodon equestris on 11th, the migratory White-clubbed Glasswing Scaeva pyrastri from 15th, Hornet Plumehorn Volucella zonaria and Broad-banded Epistrophe E. grossulariae from 21st and a Dark-winged Wrinklehead Chrysogaster solstitialis and the first of many Compost Hoverfly Syritta pipiens on 30th.

Compost Hoverfly Syritta pipiens 21st July - Alan Keatley

July kicked off with Small Spot-eye Dronefly Eristalinus sepulchralis on Ragwort on 2nd, with Marsh Tiger Hoverfly Helophilus hybridus, the tiny Common Paragus P. haemorrhous and Wasp Plumehorn Volucella inanis all on 8th. The second new species of the year, a Buff-saddled Palebelt Leucozona glaucia, a relatively common and widespread species was recorded on 16th July, with a Matt-backed Spot-tail Melangyna labiatarum on 19th, closely followed by the third new species, a Variable Spearhorn Chrysotoxum elegans on 21st. 

Variable Spearhorn Chrysotoxum elegans 4th August - Alan Keatley

A few Dumpy Melanostoma M. mellinum were on the wing from 24th and Broad-banded Globetail Sphaerophoria taeniata from 27th, both favouring Greenland Lake. Hook-barred Spearhorn Chrysotoxum festivum, Plain-faced Dronefly Eristalis arbustorum and Many-tufted Boxer Platycheirus scutatus were all noted on 28th, with Two-banded Spearhorn Chrysotoxum bicinctum on 31st.

Two-banded Spearhorn Chrysotoxum bicinctum 31st July - Alan Keatley

In August late emerging species were still to be found with Dull-bellied Blacklet Cheilosia proxima and Stripe-faced Dronefly Eristalis nemorum on 1st, Figwort Blacklet Cheilosia variabilis on 9th, a Narcissus Roundface Eumerus funeralis on 12th, the fourth new species, and on 16th, a Ragwort Blacklet Cheilosia bergenstammi.  

Narcissus Roundface Eumerus funeralis 12th August - Alan Keatley

September saw the last two species for the year, a Yellow-girdled Fleckwing Dasysyrphus tricinctus on 1st and a Pale-knobbed Lucent Didea fasciata on 9th. Thereafter dwindling numbers of hoverflies, mostly Marmalade Hoverfly, Eristalis and Syrphus species, through the autumn into November, mainly on Michaelmas Daisy and later Ivy.

Pale-knobbed Lucent Didea fasciata 24th September - Alan Keatley