Some Adirondack bugs; could use help with ID

[DanK]

Just spent 10 days in the Adirondacks and got some insect pictures. Here is an assortment. C&C welcome, as always. All shot with a 7D and 100mm macro, most with a 36mm tube, and diffused flash.

Dan

Three views of what I think might be a marsh fly, on a daisy:



Closer:



With some little ones:



A small jumping spider:



A large, honeybee-size hoverfly:



This one next puzzles me. If it weren't for the flagellum (paddle-shaped antenna) in front, which is characteristic of flies, I would have pegged this as a bee--the eyes and head look like a bee's, and if it is not a bee, and it is certainly a good mimic in terms of the body. It is feeding with all legs on the flower, so I doubt it is a bee fly. Is it another species of hoverfly?



A violet-tailed damselfly, finishing lunch:



A dragonfly. Unfortunately, no good body shots for identification.

[deetheturk]

Wonderful series Dan, cant help with I.D. though, maybe Geoff or one of the other more experienced members can help?

[Geoff F]

Just guessing now, Dan, but going by the antennae is that some form of Robberfly (Asilidae) on the daisy? Alternatively something similar like an Empis species (Empididae)?

I don't recognise that hoverfly, possibly one that we don't get over here.

Then a bee mimic hoverfly; maybe one of the Eristalis species?

[DanK]

Thanks, David and Geoff. Geoff, I think you are right about the first one. I did some more reading today. It is definitely not a marsh fly. I found only one type of fly other than robber flies that might match is dance flies, family Empididae. I was struck by the fact that there were lots of them feeding on nectar, so it has to be a species that drinks nectar as well as feeding on prey.

[IzzieK]

Dan...another good series here...I like the pose of the last one...looks too serious for comfort...

[Shadowman]

Nice series.

[wilgk]

Really nice series, particularly the colours in the dragonfly.

[Geoff F]

If there were a lot of them, Dan, then it would be Empis.

Both feed from flowers and take prey as well but robbers tend to be solitary.

[DanK]

Geoff,

Interesting. There were lots in the area. The road was lined with these wildflowers, and many of them had at least one of these flies, and sometimes 2 or even three. I would guess that at least 80% of all of the insects I saw on this species of flower were these flies.

Dan

[Geoff F]

There were masses of Empis here this year. You should be able to find some mating pairs soon.

[Ziggy]

Nice series Dan and that violet-tailed damselfly is very cool.