Thread subject: Diptera.info :: Syrphidae (Syrphinae), Parasyrphus macularis/punctulatus, northern Norway

Posted by Geir79 on 29-05-2011 13:08
#1

Is this a variation of a Parasyrphus species??? Have Nationalnyckeln with all recorded species for the Nordic countries, but could not find any similar. Close to 10 mm, found in a mixed forest area. Photo from 28.05.2011, Bodø, northern Norway.

Curious about this one, so hope for any suggestions (maybe it's not possible to ID to species?).

Edited by Geir79 on 29-05-2011 21:21

Posted by Geir79 on 29-05-2011 13:09
#2

Second photo:

Posted by Geir79 on 29-05-2011 13:12
#3

Third:

Posted by Geir79 on 29-05-2011 13:14
#4

Last one:

Posted by Gerard Pennards on 29-05-2011 14:12
#5

Hey Geir,
Yes, it's a Parasyrphus punctulatus 'female'.
Sometimes quite a large part of a population of this species looks like this, or even with a totally black abdomen. Sometimes they are considered to be intersexes, so not completely female or male, that is the reason I put "female'in brackets like this. Otherwise it could be due to the fact that the temperature was too low during pupal stage, so than the animals tend to get darker, so called melanistic.
Greetings,
Gerard

Posted by Menno Reemer on 29-05-2011 14:34
#6

I'm not at all certain, but if I would be forced to make a guess I would rather say this is P. macularis. The pterostigma is too dark for P. punctulatus. Besides, the eyes seem to be somewhat pilose, which is usually seen in P. macularis, not in P. punctulatus (certainly not in females). But again: I'm not at all certain...

Posted by Geir79 on 29-05-2011 17:52
#7

Ok, thanks to both of you. I have photographed a couple of males at the same date, they seem to bee P. macularis, so guess that's the most likely species.
Also, P. macularis have only been recorded once in northern Norway (it seems to be only on the southern coast of Norway normally) and P. macularis should be common, according to Nationalnyckeln...

Might attach photo of what I think is a male P. macularis too:

Edited by Geir79 on 29-05-2011 18:08

Posted by Menno Reemer on 30-05-2011 11:25
#8

Yes, this looks like a typical P. macularis.

Posted by Geir79 on 30-05-2011 11:31
#9

Thanks :) Got the same answer on an Norwegian site (species recording database), so I guess the male is correctly identified (maybe not 100% sure, but close...)