Gardensafari Picture Page about the hoverfly Sphaerophoria

Sphaerophoria sp, hoverflies

Click on a thumbnail to see the large picture (around 800 X 600 pixels).

In order to get consent to use the photos on this page mail Hania (photog@gardensafari.net).

The female of Sphaerophoria scripta has the body of the typical hover fly: long, broadened somewhere near the middle and ending conically. The markings, yello stripes on a black backgroud, are typical of hover flies. It is very difficult to tell apart females of the various species in this genus, for they all do look like oneanother very much. Even studying the genitals doesn't help in this case!

The female of this species looks like many other hoverflies.

Males can be told apart by examining the genitals. There is one exception though: the male of Sphaerophoria scripta may be identified even in the field. Its body is much longer than its wings.

We'll never know to what species op Sphaerophoria these belong.