Hoverflies in Worcestershire

Text Harry Green
Table Gary Farmer
Maps John Partridge - NOTE The original article contains distribution maps of all the species listed. In the interests of not using up large amounts of disc space, these have been omitted from the end of this article for the present at least. We are exploring other ways of making this data available, but at present the best way is to subscribe, or ask John Partridge to arrange a copy, either on paper, or via e-mail.

The publication of British Hoverflies: an illustrated identification guide by Alan Stubbs & Steven Falk in 1983 greatly increased interest and recording of these Diptera. Subsequent supplements helped still further and the book was re-issued with these included in 2000, A brand new edition is in preparation by SG Ball & RKA Morris, Alan Stubbs having been banished to a darkened room to do for crane flies what he has done for hoverflies and other groups! Hoverflies in the Naturalists' Handbooks series (Gilbert 1986) also helped to increase interest. Hoverflies are often the first group tackled by budding dipterists as some at least are attractive, easily seen, insects. This activity helped increase the flow of records into the national hoverfly recording scheme resulting in the Provisional Atlas (Ball & Morris 2000).

Most of this activity seems to have passed Worcestershire by, certainly as far as records in the Worcestershire BRC are concerned. The maps, which John Partridge has prepared from records in the Worcs BRC (using DMAP), and the table, show that the number records available for even common species is poor. I (HG)started trying to identify and record hoverflies after I retired about 5 years ago. Its been hard graft, especially with some groups (Platycheirus), but with a fairly low level of activity I find I have made an impact, perhaps raising the number of records from one (even zero) to three for a few species! John Meiklejohn, and more recently Mick Blythe, have also sent in records of course, and I know that several people have hoverfly records but have not (yet) sent them to the Worcs BRC. It is very encouraging that Gary Farmer and Patrick Taylor are now taking an interest in the group. And Rosemary Winnal has been on a course! We expect a flood of records for 2002!

Gary has prepared the table which lists the number of Worcestershire records with brief indication of flight period, preferred habitat, etc, largely derived from the Provisional Atlas.

The purpose of this article is to encourage readers to have a go at hoverflies in Worcestershire. Surely we can do better?

Notes relating to the table:
Legend for habitat preferences of Adult hoverflies:
ga = gardens, gr = grassland, h = hedgerows, wet = wetlands, wo = woodlands
The flight period is taken from the Provisional Atlas Ball & Morris 2000
Any names in the remarks column are from the Provisional Atlas
Figures in the WBRC column refer to the number of Worcestershire records held by WBRC

References