[Syrphidae] Catching females!

[Perkins, Matthew]

Hello,

I am about ot begin my first years PhD research and will be constructing food chains in the laboratory. I would like to culture the hoverfly Syrphus vitripennis but think I may have collected only males.

I understand from my I.D guide that male's have eyes that are 'together' when looking down onto their (top) dorsal side, whilst females have a gap. However, I have so far only been able to locate conspicuous males hovering or basking in good numbers around the hedgerows.

I wondered if anyone had any good tips for finding where the females are hiding (or any less dubious I.D techniques)?

Any advice would be great!

thanks,

Matt Perkins

PhD Researcher
Center for Ecology & Conservation
University of Exeter, Cornwall
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