HOVER-FLIES IN ESSEX
85
M. latifasciatus Macq. (Syrphus latifasciatus of Coe)
VC 19. Colchester 1908 (Harwood, in HD). It was earlier recorded for
Essex by Verrall (1901).
M. luniger Mg. (Syrphus luniger of Coe) 16 February-28 October
VC 18, 19. A very common species, recorded at flowers of Stellaria
holostea, Rosa sp., Daucus carota, Foeniculum vulgare, Heracleum sphon-
dylium, Smyrnium olusatrum, Calystegia sepium, Convolvulus arvensis,
Picris echioides, Senecio erucifolius and Tussilago farfara; and in gardens
at Chrysanthemum parthenium and Doronicum.
Scaeva pyrastri L. 23 July-28 October
VC 18, 19. A common fly in late summer, sometimes very abundant in
August, and one of the species known to migrate in certain years. The rare
var. unicolor was recorded by Verrall (1901) from Walton-on-Naze on
24 August 1869. The type has been observed at flowers of Calystegia
sepium agg., Convolvulus arvensis, Cirsium arvense, Picris echioides,
Sonchus arvensis; and in gardens at Eschscholtzia californica, Cynara
scolymos, single Dahlia and Chrysanthemum maximum.
S. selenitica Mg.
VC 18. A rare immigrant. Wanstead, 25 April 1960 (E. H. Moss).
Dasysyrphus albostriatus Fln. (Syrphus albostriatus of Coe)
7 May-3 September
VC 18, 19. A common species, taken at flowers of Ranunculus bulbosus,
Daucus carota, Heracleum sphondylium, Oenanthe crocata, Silaum silaus,
Centaurea nigra, Pulicaria dysenterica and Sonchus arvensis.
D. arcuatus Fln. (Syrphus venustus of Coe) 23 May-30 June
VC 18, 19. A very common species in early summer, but with a com-
paratively short flying season. I have only seen it at flowers of Ranunculus
acris and R. repens.
D. lunulatus Mg. (Syrphus lunulatus of Coe)
VC 19. Recorded by Harwood (1903)—as quadrilunulatus Schaum—but
there are no specimens in HD, BM or PE. There is no reason to doubt
Harwood's record: I have taken it in East Suffolk on Smyrnium olusatrum,
a common Essex coast plant.
D. tricinctus Fln. (Syrphus tricinctus of Coe)
VC 18, 19. Harwood (1903) said this was 'scarce', and there are few
records. St. Osyth Woods 1906 (W. H. Harwood, in HD); Colchester,
High Woods 8 May 1923 (Harwood, in HD); Epping Forest, on Stellaria
holostea flowers 30 May 1942 (Parmenter, 1952); Epping Forest, 11 May
1946 (LP); Epping Forest, 27 May 1956 (F. Bancroft); Epping Forest, on
Stellaria holostea flowers 6 June 1965; Eastwood, 13 August 1973 (E. T.
Levy).