The weekend approaches and there is still a chance of a hoverfly or two. A few are really dominant, most notably Eristalis tenax. There are plenty of places where this relatively abundant species has yet to be recorded, so a bit of effort may mean a new ten km square record (see map on HRS website for the gaps http://www.hoverfly.org.uk/portal.php?id=10959&scol=HFF0000&bkgrd=1&ecol=H0000FF&page=4). Sericomyia silentis also tends to visit ivy and may be seen occasionally at this time of year. Records are still arriving via ISpot.
October can be an extremely good month of Arctophila superbiens, which is mainly a northern and western species, but it does still occur in North Norfolk and it would be good to see more records from eastern England as well as from more western and northern localities.. This is a species that we think is likely to decline in southern regions as a consequence of climate change, so the more records we get the better its fortunes can be tracked. If it is a nice day, why not go on a quest for this hoverfly in October.
Finally, those in East Anglia should not forget the possibility of Callicera spinolae. It could turn up almost anywhere and has been found in urban parks, formal gardens and in woodlands. A peruse of the ivy patches is a worthy pursuit. But, beware, C. aurata can also fly late and is jolly similar.
As a general point it is worth noting that all records from this time of year are welcome. People tend to hang up the net and the notebook but there are flies to be seen. I noted seven species at a local ivy patch the other day and am hoping for lots of flies when we get to North Wales for Dipterists Forum's Autumn Field Meeting which starts tomorrow.
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