A selection of notable records reported to Tanyptera. Includes older, but newly recognized regional vice county records (dates blue). ‘The region’ = VC58, 59, 60 + Cheshire, Lancashire, Merseyside, Greater Manchester. All photos are copyright of the recorder unless stated otherwise.
Possibly 2nd VC60 record (other record from 2016 near Trowbarrow), with 140 other published UK records. The distribution is widespread, mainly in the South of England, with few records in the Midlands and some in Wales. (nbnatlas.org.uk). Regarded as Nationally Scarce (Ball & Morris, 2014).
This hoverfly species is mainly found in wooded areas with bramble or rose from June to September. Sometimes the adults will visit ivy. The larvae develop in damp cavities of trees, particularly stumps or mature trees (flickr.com, Steven Falk).
Among the Callicera genus, C. aurata is fairly distinct with its long antennae with white tips. However, C. spinolae also has this characteristic and is differentiated by having black bands across tergites 2 and 3 (flickr.com, Steven Falk).
Chrysotoxum verralli (Syrphidae), Formby, VC59, 10/07/2025, P. Smith
P. Smith, 2025
10 other VC59 records, with 732 other published UK records mainly in the South and Midlands of England (nbnatlas.org.uk).
This hoverfly species occurs mainly in tall scrubby grassland habitats, but can also be found along woodland edges where bramble occurs. The larvae are proposed to be associated with aphid-attending ants, such as Lasius niger. The adults can be found from June to October (flickr.com, Steven Falk).
Chrysotoxoum species are quite strikingly marked hoverflies with their contrasting bright yellow and black colouration. C. verralli is similar to C. cautum – C. verralli has a much longer first antennal segment, and lacks the asymmetry in the male genitalia. Even more similar is C. octomaculatum, which is much more rare, and has interrupted black bands along the anterior edges of tergites 3 to 5 (flickr.com, Steven Falk).
Lophosia fasciata (Tachinidae), Great Knowley, Chorley, VC59, 08/07/2025, P. Brennan
P. Brennan, 2025
Adult male in garden.
Possibly 3rd VC59 record, with 172 other published UK records showing a widespread but evenly-scattered distribution throughout England as far north as Cumbria. Some records also in Wales and Ireland (nbnatlas.orgk.uk).
It is associated with broad-leaved woodland habitats, but can also be found in downland and coastal grasslands. Tachinids are parasitic flies, and this species’ host is the Hawthorn Shieldbug (and also the Bishop’s Mitre Shieldbug in Mainland Europe). Adults can be found from June to August at Umbellifer flowers or resting on vegetation (flickr.com, Steven Falk).
In terms of Tachinid flies, this species is very distinctive and unmistakeable. It is completely black and rather elongate and with a club-shaped abdomen end. The males have a characteristically enlarged third antennal segment. There is also a band across the apical third of the wings (flickr.com, Steven Falk).
