Eupeodes

A genus of similar looking species with a variety of yellow markings on the abdomen, including spots, lunulate spots and bands. The species with bands can be told from other similar genera by having the hairs on the margins of tergites 3 onwards entirely black. Identification can be tricky, with males of some species near indistinguishable without referring to microscopic features.

Eupeodes bucculatus - Male similar to luniger but spots nearly square and often fused on mid-line. Female like latifasciatus but front edge of bands more undulating. May be a species complex of up to three separate species.

Eupeodes corollae - Yellow markings reach edge of tergites unlike other Eupeodes. Males and females differ in appearance

Eupeodes lapponicus - Similar to luniger, but has distinctive wing venation with R4+5 strongly dipped. Only recent records are from south-west England

Eupeodes latifasciatus - Female with spots often fused to form bands and frons half black and half yellow. Male usually with partially fused square spots resembling spectacles, hard to distinguish from luniger.

Eupeodes luniger - Both sexes with broad lunulate spots which do not reach the lateral margins of the tergites. Female with y-shaped black extension on frons and mainly yellow hairs on posterior of front femur

Eupeodes nielseni - Scarce species resembling luniger, but smaller and darker. Females with more black on frons, lots of black hairs on front femur and narrower straighter spots on tergites

Eupeodes nitens - Uncommon species, usually with Syrphus liked moustached bands on tergites but these do not reached lateral margins of tergites. Female told from bucculatus by less narrowed bands