I specialise in Diptera (true flies) and offer a postal ID service for consultancies, universities & charities. Send preserved samples and receive species lists with ecological & conservation notes. Get in touch to discuss your project.

Episyrphus balteatus feeding on Hogweed, clinging on against the sea breeze. Numbers seemed up today — perhaps a local mass emergence, new arrivals from the Continent, or both. - Scurdie Ness, Angus. #hoverflies

♀ Scaeva selenitica feeding on Field Scabious—looks to be a good year for this migratory hoverfly. Montrose, Angus. #hoverflies

A Hummingbird Hawk-moth has been visiting the Buddleia in my garden over the last two days seemingly part of a recent influx in NE Scotland. My goodness they are fast! - Montrose, Angus #moths

To target Cheilosia albipila and C. grossa larvae, split Marsh Thistle stems and roots. After checking, return larvae to the stem and lay the plant down to continue development. Or bring stems into captivity for rearing—you might even get a bonus parasitoid wasp! #hoverflies

Melangyna cincta can be easily targeted in the larval stage by walking along a beech hedge, spotting Woolly Beech Aphid leaf curls, and gently unfolding them to check for larvae inside. Getting a photo for verification is usually straightforward too.

Brachyopa insensilis: sap runs allow focused searches for both adults & larvae, but targeting larvae is arguably the more effective recording method. Larval activity isn’t constrained by weather or flight period, and B. insensilis larvae are generally easier to identify than the adults. #hoverflies

Solitary Bee Identification Workshop at Grantown-on-Spey in Highland on Thurs 7th Aug 2025. #solitarybees #hymenoptera

♂ Rhagio lineola perched politely on the outside of my kitchen window. - Montrose, Angus #Rhagionidae #Diptera

If you have recorded this species, please consider adding to whatever recording platform or schemes you currently use though preferably via UK Hoverfly Recording Scheme, iRecord, iNaturalist or Syrphboard where we can access the records. #hoverflies

Brachyopa insensilis: sap runs allow focused searches for both adults & larvae, but targeting larvae is arguably the more effective recording method. Larval activity isn’t constrained by weather or flight period, and B. insensilis larvae are generally easier to identify than the adults. #hoverflies

Melangyna cincta can be easily targeted in the larval stage by walking along a beech hedge, spotting Woolly Beech Aphid leaf curls, and gently unfolding them to check for larvae inside. Getting a photo for verification is usually straightforward too. #hoverflies

Just checked iRecord after a week—Parasyrphus nigritarsis remains at 52 records for 2025 with no new additions. Their peak has passed, so any activity now is likely at higher elevations like the Scottish Highlands. Still worth checking promising leaf beetle colonies, wherever you are. #hoverflies

At least eight Long-finned Pilot Whales seen off Scurdie Ness, Angus, between 11:15 and 13:30, slowly heading south. Behaviours included spy-hopping, logging, blowing, and sideways cruising with the long lateral fin held above water. Patch Gold! Also: a pod of Bottle-nose Dolphin and 2 Minke Whales.

A friend manages an old fly-tipped bathtub as a flowerbed and added a 'no spray' sign to deter the overzealous. I checked the tub today—a fine teasel growing, an aphid colony on its stem, and nearby, a fat Episyrphus balteatus larva sleeping off an aphid meal. Fabulous #hoverflies

The sap-run dwelling larva of Brachyopa insensilis is one of the more distinctive in the genus and can be identified in the field, especially with a 10x hand lens. Other hoverfly species also inhabit sap runs, so if your larva doesn't match this one, the references provided may assist. #hoverflies

Got a beech hedge near you? Why not check it for Woolly Beech Aphid leaf curls? Gently unfurl the curls and you may be fortunate enough to find Melangyna cincta larvae within. The larvae prey on these aphids and are often easy to ID, even in poor weather when adults aren't active. #hoverflies

Checked iRecord just now: 50 verified Parasyrphus nigritarsis records so far in 2025, up by 2 since last update. Just 3 are adults. If you've found eggs, revisit for larvae—and check other sites like leaf beetle colonies on willow & alder. Plenty of time left to find them. #hoverflies

Recording hoverflies this summer? Check curled leaves on beech hedges—caused by Woolly Beech Aphids—for Melangyna cincta larvae. The larvae prey on these aphids and are often easy to find and ID, even in poor weather when adults aren’t active. #hoverflies

Perseverance pays off - Parasyrphus nigritarsis eggs nestled among the orange clusters of dock leaf beetle eggs. #hoverflies

Checked iRecord this evening: 48 verified Parasyrphus nigritarsis records this year, up 12 since last update on 28 May. Only 3 are adults. If you've found eggs, revisit soon for larvae—still plenty of time to spot them through June and July. #hoverflies @dipteristsforum.bsky.social

Tried photographing Baccha elongata larvae today. They seemed sluggish—then I spotted dark spots on their backs. At 20x magnification, the truth emerged: not blemishes, but parasitoid larvae, jaws and all imbedded amid the fat bodies. Nature is brutal. #hoverflies #parasitoid

I spent some enjoyable and productive time in the Brecks today. Despite it being breezy, I managed to find a couple of Microdon devius hoverflies at Foulden Common, something I've wanted to see for quite a few years.

Today I checked in on the homemade #Hoverfly lagoons ooh! Did u know @buzzclub.bsky.social are interested in yr lagoon visitors? tinyurl.com/thtefede @ellenrotheray.bsky.social You can easily make a lagoon encouraging #Hooverfly population with @davegoulson.bsky.social tinyurl.com/5n6v2kxy

Parasyrphus punctulatus larva feeding on a Aphis viburni. Originally found among Gilletteella cooleyi adelgids on Douglas Fir. #hoverflies

Fancy finding Melangyna cincta larvae? Check Beech hedges for curled leaves made by Woolly Beech Aphids (Phyllaphis fagi). Gently unfurl to find syrphine larvae inside. Other species like E. balteatus & Pipiza may be present. Share pics (dorsal view best) on here or iRecord/iNaturalist #hoverflies

Took a peek at iRecord yesterday evening – 36 verified Parasyrphus nigritarsis records this year, 8 more since last update on 22 May! If you've found eggs, it will be worth revisiting them soon to find the larvae. Plenty of time left to look for these hoverflies with June & July ahead! #Hoverflies

Today I examined a sample bag of *G. cooleyi* collected earlier in the month from this same tree on 12 May. This yielded some syrphine larvae including 3 *Parasyrphus punctulatus* and a *Meliscaeva auricollis*

Earlier today I examined a bag of C. cooleyi I had collected on 12 May which yielded 3 Parasyrphus punctulatus and 1 Meliscaeva auricollis larvae. #Hoverflies

I think Macrosiphoniella is my favorite aphid genus. Four species seen around Norwich so far this year, the latest of which is this Macrosiphoniella artemisiae on Mugwort yesterday on my walk home.

I took a sample bag of *Gilletteella cooleyi* from a Douglas Fir in the hope of finding hoverfly larvae. On arriving home I saw several Larch Ladybird (Aphidecta obliterata) larvae wandering about the top of the bag! - Montrose, Angus #Ladybirds #Adelgids

Today I found tiny white fibrous bundles clumping together on the needles of a Douglas Fir created by *Gilletteella cooleyi* in Montrose, Angus. Inside were batches of reddish eggs & hatched nymphs lined the underside of the needles. The dense colonies made the branches look mouldy! #Adelgids

Douglas Fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii): Needles had sucker-like bases, not peg-like as in spruces & the tips weren’t sharp to the touch. Also had a faint, pleasant scent. Old cones had “mice tails” at the scale bases (where not broken off) —an expert tip from I got from a top botanist.- Montrose, Angus

A *Syrphus* larva devouring an *Aphis viburni* aphid from a leaf curl on a Guelder-rose, collected on 19 May. It was the largest of nine larvae found in total—and what an appetite it has! - Montrose, Angus #Hoverflies @dipteristsforum.bsky.social

Found numerous *Aphis viburni* (Viburnum aphid) colonies in tight leaf curls and along petioles on a shaded Guelder-rose *Viburnum opulus* in Montrose, Angus today. Even better—hoverfly larvae were in there feeding on them! Now trying to rear a few. #Aphids #Hoverflies

This is a Microdon analis hoverfly larva found yesterday. These live in the nests of ants, feeding on the larvae and pupae. They are well armoured to fend off the ants but also absorb the ant's pheromones to live undetected in the nest. #macrophotography #macromonday @royentsoc.bsky.social

Eupeodes and Epistrophe eligans devouring aphids in a community garden. Warmly received by gardeners wanting to bring down aphids numbers, perhaps a little too effective if you're interested in recording aphids! #hoverflies

Just checked iRecord – 28 verified Parasyrphus nigritarsis records this year, 6 more since last update on 16 May! If you've found eggs, it will be worth revisiting them soon to find the larvae. Plenty of time left to look for these hoverflies with the rest of May, June & July ahead! #Hoverflies

In the first image, you can see the colours of the adult Episyrphus balteatus showing through its puparium. The other puparium has darkened — often a sign it is hosting a parasitoid wasp, typically from the Diplazontinae subfamily. #Hoverflies

Parasyrphus nigritarsis eggs among the Dock Leaf Beetle eggs from Derbyshire #hoverflies

This year’s Parasyrphus nigritarsis recording has added many new sites. May–July is ideal for checking leaf beetle colonies on alder, willow, docks & poplars for these predatory larvae. Still lots of white space on the map—plenty more to find! #hoverflies

The larva of the hoverfly Epistrophe eligans seen in my #Staffs garden 14/05/25 @geoffwilkinson.bsky.social @dipteristsforum.bsky.social #hoverfly #Syrphidae #fly #Diptera

♂ Rhamphomyia tarsata from yesterday at Craig Braes, Montrose VC90. A delightful dance-fly, commonly seen in spring throughout much of Britain. #Empididae @dipteristsforum.bsky.social

Epistrophe eligans (the green one) & Meligramma trianguliferum- two distinctive hoverfly larvae that prey on aphids, hiding in plain sight with clever camouflage to evade hungry birds… but not the sharp eyes of Annie! #hoverflies

I’ve just had a quick look at iRecord & seen that we’ve verified 21 records of Parasyrphus nigritarsis for 2025 – 14 eggs, 7 larvae & 1 adult! It’s shaping up to be a good year compared to the past five. The early stages are proving to be the best stage to record. Keep up the great work! #hoverflies

This year’s push to record the eggs & larvae of Parasyrphus nigritarsis has already added many new hectads & sites. At this rate, egg & larval records may eventually outnumber adults in the Hoverfly Recording Scheme database! And we’ve still got the rest of May & June to look! #hoverflies

Parasyrphus nigritarsis larvae among dock leaf beetle larvae from North Somerset. :) #hoverflies

According to local legend, when dog walkers leave a filled dog poo bag beside a path or lob it up a tree, the magical Dog Poo Bag Fairy swoops in under the cover of night to whisk it away—peg on nose and wings beating furiously.

Parasyrphus nigritarsis egg among dock leaf beetle eggs from North Somerset. :) #hoverflies

May is the peak month for the discovery of eggs and larvae of Parasyrphus nigritarsis, and there remains considerable potential for recording the species in new hectads. #hoverflies