Helophilus pendulus (m+f)
A pair of sun flies (male on the left) at Burton Mere Wetlands. Species ID is based on less than 50% of the hind tibia being black.
This is one of several hoverflies where gender can't be determined from the spacing of the eyes - often males' eyes are closer together or even merge. Instead, the shape of the abdomen has to be used - the male as an obvious genital capsule projecting from a flat tip whilst the female's abdomen comes to a smooth point.
Helophilus pendulus (m+f)
A pair of sun flies (male on the left) at Burton Mere Wetlands. Species ID is based on less than 50% of the hind tibia being black.
This is one of several hoverflies where gender can't be determined from the spacing of the eyes - often males' eyes are closer together or even merge. Instead, the shape of the abdomen has to be used - the male as an obvious genital capsule projecting from a flat tip whilst the female's abdomen comes to a smooth point.