Hoverflies at the castle

After the torrential rain ceased this afternoon, a good variety of hoverflies made an appearance on the Hogweed flowers around the edge of the Castell Coch woodland clearing. These included Volucella pellucens as well as the ubiquitous Episyrphus balteatus, along with both British species of Meliscaeva: M. auricollis and M. cinctella. These appear rather large-winged for the size of their bodies, and differ in the pattern of the yellow markings on their abdomens.

Meliscaeva auricollis

Meliscaeva cinctella