 |
24
July 2011
There was a Volucella inanis hoverfly on the southern part of the Slonk Hill Cutting. 29
June 2011
|
 |
22
June 2011
This hoverfly was seen on Buckingham Cutting (south) in Force 6 breezy conditions. I have only photographed this species once before, but it could be easily overlooked or mistaken for another commoner species. |
 |
31
May 2011
Volucella pellucens was noted over the Brambles near the Buckingham Cutting (south). |
27
April 2011
Flies
were abundant and hoverflies frequently seen but only the common small
and medium sized species: Drone Flies Eristalis,
Marmalade
Flies Episyrphus balteatus,
Myathropa
florea, Rhingia campestris and
an Eupeodes species.
19
April 2011
The
distinctive hoverfly
Rhingia campestris was seen visiting
Green
Alkanet on the Waterworks
Road for the first time this year.
17
April 2011
Another
first of the year was the common hoverfly
Myathropa
florea
with its distinctive
behaviour.
12
April 2011
My
first Helophilus
pendulus hoverfly of the year was
seen on the Pixie Path very close to the 'Butterfly
Copse' at the southern end.
3 April
2011
At
least one Drone
Fly Eristalis, and one Marmalade
Fly Episyrphus balteatus, were
seen on the southern bank of the Buckingham Cutting.
1 April
2011
I
noted my first hoverfly
of the year on Alexanders on the Pixie
Path, Old Shoreham. It was a species of Syrphus.
| 5
October 2010
After the rain had stopped for the first time this month most of the hoverflies had disappeared on the Ivy except for an occasional Drone Fly Eristalis and a few Syrphus. On the verges of the Coastal-Downs Link Cyclepath north of the Toll Bridge, there was a very small hoverfly (photograph on the right) on a Hogweed flower. It could be a Melanostoma sp. |
 |
20
September 2010
Hoverflies
were frequently seen with wasps
and bees around the Ivy on the
Pixie
Path, notably Volucella zonaria
(in the Butterfly Copse next to the Waterworks
Road),
Myathropa
florea, the Drone
Fly Eristalis,
Syrphus,
and
Helophilus
pendulus.
Some
of these identifications may be for Volucella
inanis as the two species are very
similiar.
19
September 2010
The
large hoverfly Volucella zonaria visited
some Ivy in the Hawthorn scrub in the north-west of Mill
Hill. Another Volucella zonaria was
seen on Ivy in the Butterfly Copse next to the Waterworks
Road.
Some
of these identifications may be for Volucella
inanis as the two species are very
similiar until they settle.
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
On
the Bramble hedge rows on the southern side of Buckingham
Cutting, there were handful of the hoverfly Syrphus
and
one hoverfly Helophilus
pendulus visiting a solitary Greater
Knapweed still in flower,
plus the inevitable Marmalade Flies Episyrphus
balteatus.
 |
2
September 2010
A rather uneventful trek to Lancing Ring found the large and impressive Volucella zonaria hoverfly and frequent Syrphus in the wood on the eastern border of McIntyre's Field. The behaviour of this smaller species (illustrated on the left) was markedly epistrophic. |
29
August 2010
The
large hoverfly Volucella zonaria visited
some Brambles
on the verges of the steps leading to the lower slopes at the southern
end of Mill Hill.
24
August 2010
The
large hoverfly
Volucella zonaria and the medium sized
hoverfly Volucella pellucens were
both noted over the Brambles near
the Buckingham Cutting (south).
 |
19
August 2010
After the overnight rain shower, I made an extended visit to the Slonk Hill Cutting area where there were five of the large hoverfly Volucella inanis seen in different locations. When the linear copse opened out there was the flowering vegetation (Sow Thistles, Goldenrod, Bramble flowers and blackberries etc) that attracted scores of hoverflies, probably exceeding a hundred of the small Marmalade Flies Episyrphus balteatus, plus the medium-sized Syrphus, Drone Flies Eristalis, Scaeva, Myathropa florea, the small Sphaerophoria scripta and one of the larger Volucella inanis. |
 |
18
August 2010
The large hoverfly Volucella inanis landed on some Goldenrod amongst the Brambles near (east of) the Buckingham Cutting southern bank. |
 |
1
August 2010
Another cloudy day and not a day for butterflies to be out, and at first there were very few to be seen and many hoverflies were harassing the ones that had tried to settle in the cool conditions. An impressive Volucella zonaria was reluctant to settle over the Waterworks Road, with common Marmalade Flies Episyrphus balteatus everywhere, frequent Myathropa florea, frequent Syrphus and Scaeva species. One large hoverfly Volucella inanis was seen on Ivy on the Pixie Path. |
|
|
30
July 2010
Hoverflies
were frequent on the southern part of the Buckingham Cutting with Myathropa
florea visiting Hogweed
flowers, a Scaeva
species
visiting the smaller meadow flowers
and the large impressive Volucella zonaria
choosing
Brambles
as its favourite flower.
 |
 |
|
|
|
29
July 2010
My
first Volucella inanis hoverfly
of the year was seen under the canopy of trees that is Lancing
Clump.
23
July 2010
My
first confirmed impressive Volucella
zonaria hoverfly of the year was seen
on a clearing on the
southern path of the Slonk Hill Cutting, north
Shoreham.
18
July 2010
In
the immediate hedgerow as the path leads east from the southern bank of
Buckingham
Cutting, north Shoreham, there was an explosion of flying insects:
dragonflies,
butterflies,
hoverflies
and other small flies and beetles.
A first of the year was a large Volucella
hoverfly
(possibly Volucella
zonaria) but I was not quite sure
of the species. Later I discovered (from the photograph on the right) that
Volucella
pellucens was present. The other commoner
species noted were Myathropa florea
(which
is noted for returning to its same spot, a circuit called Epistrophe),
a Syrphus and
a Scaeva
species.
27
June 2010
The
Bumblebee
mimic Volucella
bombylans var. bombylans was
spotted in the Hawthorn scrub immediately to the north of the lower slopes
of Mill Hill.
26
April 2010
The
first three Rhingia campestris hoverflies
of the year were seen visiting the first Bluebells
on the verges of the Waterworks
Road on the footpath section.
| 9
April 2010
This hoverfly is my first Eupeodes species of the year. |
 |
24
February 2010
It
was the first time this year that I have felt the warmth of the sun on
my back. The air temperature reached 9.1 °C.
There were very few flying insects but I did manage to spot a Drone
Fly, Eristalis, my first hoverfly
recorded this year. It flew around some low green vegetation in the Butterfly
Copse near the Waterworks Road
2 October
2009
The
fascinating
Myathropa florea were frequent and
noticeable, notably between the Waterworks
Road and the Butterfly Copse, Old Shoreham.
20
September 2009
Ivy
(notably around one large clump of Ivy on the Pixie
Path, near the NW corner of Frampton's Field) hosted frequent Syrphus
and
Drone
Flies,
Eristalis,
plus at least one each of Myathropa
florea and Helophilus
pendulus.
6 September
2009
The
common species of hoverfly were plentiful amongst the Ivy on the verges
of the cyclepath south of the Toll
Bridge in Old Shoreham, including Myathropa
florea and the frequent Episyrphus
balteatus. In the Butterfly Copse
next to the Waterworks Road,
an impressive Volucella zonaria settled
on the wooden railings for a few seconds.
2 September
2009
The
hoverfly Myathropa
florea was seen on the lower slopes
of Mill Hill.
17
August 2009
On
the upper meadows of Mill Hill a few Rhingia
campestris hoverflies were noted visiting
Wild
Basil and
Hardheads.
| 16
August 2009
By the Steyning Road in Old Shoreham (near the start of the footpath to the Waterworks Road and Mill Hill before the Field Maple tunnel) a black and yellow hoverfly Xanthogramma pedissequum flitted in the undergrowth. |
 |
| 3
August 2009
This hoverfly was frequently seen on the meadows on the upper part of Mill Hill and was thought to be a Scaeva species. |
 |
3 July
2009
The
lilac-purple flowers of Teasel and
Spear Thistle were noticed on the edge
of the cyclepath from Botolphs to Annington Sewer and visited by hoverflies:
 |
 |
|
|
|
30
June 2009
I
only had twenty seconds to spot the large spectacular hoverfly Volucella
zonaria over the southern part of
Frampton's Field, Old Shoreham. It was the first one seen this year in
warm humid weather conditions in mid-afternoon.
| 7
June 2009
Bumblebeemimic Volucella bombylans var. plumata at the entrance to the footpath to Mill Hill through the Field Maple tunnel by the Steyning Road, Old Shoreham. This hoverfly species is seen regularly in this area. |
 |
| 2
June 2009
Bumblebee mimic Volucella bombylans var. bombylans at the entrance to the footpath to Mill Hill through the Field Maple tunnel by the Steyning Road, Old Shoreham. This hoverfly species is seen regularly in this area. |
 |
17
May 2009
My
first of the year
bumblebee mimic hoverfly
Volucella
bombylans var. bombylans settled
on the
Pixie Path.
9 May
2009
The
first of the year Volucella
bombylans var. plumata hoverfly settled
on the top part of the Pixie Path.
 |
7
May 2009
The first Helophilus pendulus of the year was seen on a Stinging Nettles on the Waterworks Road. |
| 26
April 2009
This
hoverfly is my first Eupeodes species
of the year.
|
 |
25
April 2009
There
were scores of the distinctive hoverfly Rhingia
campestris over the Stinging Nettles
and other vegetation outside the back gardens of the houses and next to
the Alexander-lined path that runs along
the southern boundary of Frampton's Field, Old Shoreham.
Late
April 2009
 |
 |
|
|
on Alexanders |
Green Alkanet |
14
April 2009
A
solitary first of the year Rhingia campestris
hoverfly
visited Green Alkanet
on the verges of the Waterworks
Road.
28
March 2009
Hoverflies
had been seen around since the beginning of the month. Most of these were
Drone
Flies,
Eristalis
pertinax, and there were some more in
the Butterfly Copse near the Waterworks
Road with one Sphaerophoria
scripta noted.
21
September 2008
A
large
Volucella zonaria
hoverfly
was spotted in the twitten between Corbyn
Crescent and Adelaide Square, Shoreham,
where one had been seen earlier.
8 September
2008
A
large Volucella zonaria
hoverfly
was spotted on Ivy in the Butterfly Copse next to the Waterworks
Road.
| 10
August 2008
Another Volucella inanis and a noteworthy Volucella pellucens hoverfly (illustrated right) were seen on the Pixie Path in the north-west corner amongst the Ivy. |
 |
6 August
2008
Another
Volucella
zonaria
(possibly V. inanis) hoverfly
was seen on the Pixie Path in the north-west
corner of Frampton's Field resting on the barbed wire where it has been
seen in previous years.
4
August 2008
In
the twitten between Corbyn Crescent
and Adelaide Square, the large Volucella
zonaria
hoverfly, was my third seen
this year and the first one ever seen in the residential area of Shoreham.
1 August
2008
My
first Scaeva pyrastri
of the year and a species of Helophiluswhich
may not have been the usual Helophilus
pendulus were seen on the Buckingham
Cutting, southern side.
 |
27
July 2008
The second spectacular Volucella zonaria hoverfly of 2008 was seen amongst the waste land at the top of The Drive, Shoreham. |
27
July 2008
The
first spectacular Volucella zonaria
hoverfly
of 2008 was seen
amongst the scrub on Mill Hill.
 |
23
July 2008
The first hoverfly Volucella inanis of the year was spotted in the Butterfly Copse next to the Waterworks Road. |
| 13
July 2008
Marmalade Flies, Episyrphus balteatus, were seen on the southern bank of the Slonk Hill Cutting. |
 |
 |
23
June 2008
Hoverfly on Dog Rose adjacent to the Coastal Link Cyclepath south of the Toll Bridge. It
looks like a Syrphus.
This
species is frequently seen.
|
| 22
June 2008
The small Soldier Fly, Chloromyia formosa, illustrated on the left was seen occasionally and was probably frequent at the top of Buckingham Park, Shoreham, amongst the vegetation under the canopy of trees. This is not a hoverfly. Marmalade Flies, Episyrphus balteatus, were seen on Mill Hill. |
 |
19
June 2008
A
particular attractive specimen of the bumblebee-mimic Volucella
bombylans var. plumata hoverfly
was noted on the lower slopes of Mill
Hill and it was unfortunate that my camera was broken.
17
June 2008
On
a passage trip to the Buckingham Cutting,
I spotted my first bumblebee-mimic Volucella
bombylans var. plumata hoverfly
of the year.
 |
 |
Hoverflies on Dog Rose growing on the edge of the Coastal Link Cyclepath in Upper Beeding by the southern part of the Cement Works land. The first one is a female Dasysyrphus venustus, which are characteristic spring hoverflies associated with woodland edges. This is the first record on these Nature Notes pages.
The hoverfly on the right is smaller. I think this is a Platycheirus, possibly scutatus.
3 May
2008
Green
Alkanet was attractive to the frequent
Rhingia
campestris hoverflies on the Waterworks
Road.
27
- 29 April 2008
Hoverflies
were common especially on the Alexanders.
There were the usual species already mentioned and at least one Helophilus
pendulus and a few Eupeodes.
25
April 2008
Occasional
Rhingia
campestris hoverflies visited Green
Alkanet flowers
on the Waterworks Road. The first
Sphaerophoria
scripta were seen on the Slonk
Hill Cutting south where the spinney opened up into a clearing, and
visiting Daisies
on the lower slopes of Mill
Hill around midday.
23
April 2008
Frequent
Syrphus,
a few Myathropa florea hoverflies
and my first Rhingia campestris of
the year were all seen on the Alexanders
bordering the path that runs along the south of Frampton's Field, Old Shoreham.
20
April 2008
There
were plenty of hoverflies on the outskirts of Shoreham, but I did not note
their species names. A few of these were Epistrophe
eligans and the others noted were
frequent Syrphus.
10
April 2008
The
first Myathropa florea hoverfly
was seen in the wasteland at the top of The
Drive in Shoreham, followed by the first Syrphus
on
the Pixie Path to Mill
Hill.
28
February 2008
I
noted one of the Drone Flies,
Eristalis
pertinax, in the Butterfly Copse near
the Waterworks Road.
4 February
2008
The
first hoverfly of 2008
was recorded in Lancing. The small species has not been identified.
It
could be Meliscaeva auricollis var.
maculicornis
(spring brood).
Lancing
Hoverflies Database Records (by Ray Hamblett)
Lancing
Flies (Diptera) Gallery (by Ray Hamblett)
Adur Hoverflies > 2007
