2016 September 2

 

   Annie Pang sends a photograph of a hover fly (Syrphidae).  Many hover flies (also known as flower flies) are boldly and, one would think distinctively, marked, and one would think they would be easy to identify.  Unfortunately most specialists agree that they are not as easy to identify from photographs as one would think, and it is probably best to leave this one, beautifully marked as it is, as just a syrphid.

 

Hover fly (Dip.: Syrphidae)   Annie Pang

 

   On the August 29 posting, we mentioned a sighting on August 24 by Aziza Cooper, at Turkey Head, of a sulphur butterfly.  Some may wonder – as I did at first – how good a sighting it was.  In fact Aziza had a good close look, supplied excellent field notes, and took a photograph.  The photograph is probably not an award-winner, and probably wouldn’t reproduce well on this site, but we can confidently assure viewers that it really was a sulphur, and consequently we should be looking out for them right now!  Good luck!