Posted by Gansucha on 01-11-2016 10:16
#1
Ukraine, Donetsk region, July 5.
I assume that the pictures Eupeodes corollae. Is it true my assumption?
Posted by Sundew on 01-11-2016 15:14
#2
The Fauna Europaea lists 6 Ukrainian species of
Eupeodes, Speight (2011,
http://www.dipter...w_2011.pdf) counts 9, and possibly there are some more. Not all have yellow bands that reach the abdomen edge and (often in males only) are confluent in the abdomen centre. However, there are a few more except
E. corollae that show this character, e.g.
E. latifasciatus and
E. lundbecki. As Speight states, "Identification of European species in Eupeodes has never been easy", because there is much variability in the yellow markings, and the distribution range of several species is still insufficiently known. An important key character are microtrichia on wing membrane and alula (
http://www.dipter...w_2011.pdf) that we cannot see in photographs.
Nevertheless there is some hope:
E. corollae males have an unusually large and obvious genital capsule, extending beyond tergite 5 for a distance equal to, or greater than, the median length of tg5. The lateral margins of tg 5 are entirely yellow. This is well visible in
http://www.arthro...F3253k.jpg. Even though in your picture the abdomen tip is not very well visible, I would say there is a big black genital capsule. So
Eupeodes cf.
corollae is a safe name, and perhaps you could even omit the "cf." :)
Regards, Sundew
Posted by Gansucha on 01-11-2016 15:59
#3
Thank you for the detailed explanation, Sundew !!!