Southbank Equestrian, Henfield (arena bank next to car park track). The females (as well as having broader abdomens) have more triangular-shaped spots. There are similar ones but none with these rectangular spots (some have spots but they are curved).

Chequered Hoverfly ♂︎ (Melanostoma scalare) - Bacchini (18/08/2023) Southbank Equestrian, Henfield (arena bank next to car park track). The females (as well as having broader abdomens) have more triangular-shaped spots. There are similar ones but none with these rectangular spots (some have spots but they are curved).

Southbank Equestrian, Henfield (arena bank next to car park track). Definitely a male because of these nearly joined up eyes (females have a gap between them).

Chequered Hoverfly ♂︎ (Melanostoma scalare) - Bacchini (18/08/2023) Southbank Equestrian, Henfield (arena bank next to car park track). Definitely a male because of these nearly joined up eyes (females have a gap between them).

Southbank Equestrian, Henfield (arena bank next to car park track). On a sticky groundsel flower.

Chequered Hoverfly ♂︎ (Melanostoma scalare) - Bacchini (18/08/2023) Southbank Equestrian, Henfield (arena bank next to car park track). On a sticky groundsel flower.

Chequered Hoverfly ♂︎ (Melanostoma scalare) - Bacchini (18/08/2023) Southbank Equestrian, Henfield (arena bank next to car park track).

Southbank Equestrian, Henfield (arena bank next to car park track). On a sticky groundsel flower whcih is quite small, so this is a pretty small geezer.

Chequered Hoverfly ♂︎ (Melanostoma scalare) - Bacchini (18/08/2023) Southbank Equestrian, Henfield (arena bank next to car park track). On a sticky groundsel flower whcih is quite small, so this is a pretty small geezer.

Southbank Equestrian, Henfield (arena bank - on Wood Avens). You can easily tell wasps from hoverflies because the former have long antenna, not these short stumpy ones! It's the species we see most often around here.They are pretty small, only around 7-12 mm.

Long Hoverfly ♀︎ (Sphaerophoria scripta) - Sphaerophoria (29/06/2025) Southbank Equestrian, Henfield (arena bank - on Wood Avens). You can easily tell wasps from hoverflies because the former have long antenna, not these short stumpy ones! It's the species we see most often around here.They are pretty small, only around 7-12 mm.

Southbank Equestrian, Henfield (arena bank - on Wood Avens). It's a female due to a) the rounder abdomen (males are more cigar-shaped) and b) the eyes of males meet in the middle of their head but there's a gap between the eyes of females which you can just about make out here. Also wiki says that the females are brighter coloured than the males. They particucularly like Asteraceae although this Wood Avens is in the Rosaceae.

Long Hoverfly ♀︎ (Sphaerophoria scripta) - Sphaerophoria (29/06/2025) Southbank Equestrian, Henfield (arena bank - on Wood Avens). It's a female due to a) the rounder abdomen (males are more cigar-shaped) and b) the eyes of males meet in the middle of their head but there's a gap between the eyes of females which you can just about make out here. Also wiki says that the females are brighter coloured than the males. They particucularly like Asteraceae although this Wood Avens is in the Rosaceae.

Southbank Equestrian, Henfield (arena bank). It's the only hoverfly that has the two "moustache" bands - the thinner ones - so it is easy to ID. Was really chuffed with this shot. showing the movement of the wings. It's a female due to the gap between the eyes (males the eyes are kind of fused at the top) and the broadness of the abdomen.

Marmalade Hoverfly ♀︎ (Episyrphus balteatus) - Episyrphus (26/07/2023) Southbank Equestrian, Henfield (arena bank). It's the only hoverfly that has the two "moustache" bands - the thinner ones - so it is easy to ID. Was really chuffed with this shot. showing the movement of the wings. It's a female due to the gap between the eyes (males the eyes are kind of fused at the top) and the broadness of the abdomen.

Southbank Equestrian, Henfield (arena bank). It's keen on what looks like an Oxeye Daisy.

Marmalade Hoverfly ♀︎ (Episyrphus balteatus) - Episyrphus (26/07/2023) Southbank Equestrian, Henfield (arena bank). It's keen on what looks like an Oxeye Daisy.