Hoverfly - Striped-backed Glimmer (Riponnesia splendens)

Striped-backed Glimmer (Riponnesia splendens) Size: 5.5-7mm Flight: May-Sep

Species of the week – 13^th Sept

This is not a common species and would seem to be localised, with only 1479 records listed on NBN as of September 2025

https://species.nbnatlas.org/species/NBNSYS0100005170#overview

This species is in a genus all by itself within the U.K, having previously been listed under the genus Orthonevra due to its morphological likeness. Prior to this it was classified in 1822 under the genus Chrysogaster, again a not too dissimilar morphological grouping.

Hoverfly sightings September 2025

This page will list hoverflies and notable species seen at various locations within the UK throughout the year.

♂= male   ♀=female

Barnsley Main 11th Sept 12-1pm

Not much around temperature 15-16 degrees, winds gusty with sunny intervals.

♀ Footballer (Helophilus pendulus) warming up on a bramble leaf, ♀ Common Banded (Syrphus ribesii) + two unknown sex, Cheilosia sp, ♀ Lunuled Apideater(Eupeodes luniger) all on ragwort. 4 species seen

Wosborough Reservoir 5th Sept 12-4.30pm

Hoverflies Wildguides Book Review

Hoverflies: of Britain and Ireland 3^rd Edition

Stuart Ball and Roger Morris
WildGuides (pbk) published 2024

344 pages, 1048 colour photos, 162 colour distribution maps, 53 tables

ISBN 978-0-691-24678-9

https://www.nhbs.com/search?q=hoverflies&qtview=203528

This website would not exist if it were not for the 1^st edition of the book. I learnt so much about hoverflies from that book. It now being well travelled and a little battered, so it sits on my shelf having produced many years of service.

If you are visiting this website, chances are you might already have a copy of this book however if you are just getting into Hoverflies and live in the UK & Ireland then this is the book to start with.

Hoverfly - Yellow-girdled Fleckwing (Dasysyrphus tricinctus)

Yellow-girdled Fleckwing (Dasysyrphus tricinctus) 7.25-10.25mm Flight: Apr-Sep

Species of the Week - 6th Sept

Yellow-girdled fleckwing (Dasysyrphus tricinctus) is a widespread but not an abundant hoverfly, with August/September being a good time to spot them as adults are known to visit yellow composites and white umbellifers, particularly on edges of lowland woodlands, parklands and coniferous forests. 

Hoverfly Art: Volucellae and Bees

Investigating Hoverfly Art

Animal Coloration: F.E.Beddard (1892)

In perusing the internet about Hoverflies I came across this print titled ‘Volucellae and Bees’ Plate IV, from a book by Frank Evers Beddard titled Animal coloration: An Account of the Principal Facts and Theories Relating to the Colours and Marking of Animals (1892) illustrated by Peter Smit and published by Swam Sonnenschein & Co.