too dry, too hot

 It has been a while since I updated this but it has been a real struggle finding new hoverflies with the vegetation just too dry.


Over the whole of July I could only find a couple of species new for the year, despite trips out with the Devon Fly Group and even joining the dipterists forum summer week for a day.

 With a very busy family August coming up I guess that 100 species is now beyond me. In the end I saw 94 different ones so I cannot be too disappointed.


I have however strayed into looking at one or two other flies so I'll close with a few pictures


Ectophasia crassipennis is a parasite fly that has recently colonised.




I've also seen several Thick-headed flies, also parasites, This one is Conops quadrifasciatus



And finally I came across a couple of soldierflies such as this Banded General



Come September I will have a think and plan for next season but at least I have ben able to get to grips much better with Hoverflies as a group and hope to build on that knowledge going forward

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