Vulpine

I'm not sure why an essentially black hoverfly should be thought of as foxy, though I suppose she has a slightly bronzed look about her, but whatever the etymology of her name, I'm moderately confident that she's Cheilosia vulpina. I posted a set of detailed images to the Hoverfly Recording Scheme group and asked if the experts agreed, and the response from Roger Morris was "Mmm possibly, but I always find them tricky." Roger is the man who literally wrote the hoverfly identification bible (the new edition of which I'm eagerly awaiting) - so I think I'm justified in giving myself permission to find them tricky too.

On the assumption that I'm right though, and this is C. vulpina (not an unreasonable assumption, by the way, because I've had garden records of this species accepted in the past), the notable thing about it is that its larvae develop among and feed on the roots of burdock plants, and sometimes globe artichokes. The adults are keen foragers from umbelliferous plants such as cow parsley, wild carrot, and angelica. Otherwise C. vulpina isn't at all fussy as to where it lives, and it can turn up in pretty much any habitat that supports both umbellifers and burdock, though it especially favours woodland. It's widespread across the south of England and the Midlands, and whereas it was once thought to be rare, it's now said to be increasing. Alternatively - what with being tricky and all - it may simply have been under-recorded in the past.

I had just twenty minutes at lunchtime today, between the morning's rain stopping and R and I needing to set off for an afternoon appointment in Warwick, to get out in the garden with the macro and find something interesting to photograph. "Did you get anything?" said R as I walked back into the kitchen, his expression suggesting that he was ready to dive under the table to avoid the shrapnel from an expected explosion.  "Yup," I replied smugly. "Hopper, sleeping bee, harvestman, hoverfly, wet shieldbug." All of them can be viewed here, if you'd like to see the evidence.

Maybe I should try working to a time limit more often.