williamkimzey's Journal

1. high level filter search they way you like
2. download is on search menu (bottom right)

3. select columns
   Basic:
   Geo: "place guess"
   Taxon: All

4. export
5. download the export (I forget this step)

url to filter my observations ID'd by @edanko
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?ident_user_id=edanko&user_id=williamkimzey&place_id=any

Family Syrphidae (Flower Flies or Hover Flies)
Guide from @edanko: https://sites.google.com/view/flyguide

"Hoverflies are important pollinators of flowering plants in many ecosystems worldwide. Syrphid flies are frequent flower visitors to a wide range of wild plants, as well as agricultural crops, and are often considered the second-most important group of pollinators after wild bees. However, relatively little research into fly pollinators has been conducted compared with bee species. Bees are thought to be able to carry a greater volume of pollen on their bodies, but flies may be able to compensate for this by making a greater number of flower visits.

Like many pollinator groups, syrphid flies range from species that take a generalist approach to foraging by visiting a wide range of plant species through those that specialize in a narrow range of plants. Although hoverflies are often considered mainly nonselective pollinators, some hoverflies species are highly selective and carry pollen from one plant species. Cheilosia albitarsis is thought to only visit Ranunculus repens.

Specific flower preferences differ among species, but syrphid fly species have repeatedly been shown to prefer white- and yellow-coloured flowers.
Larvae of many hoverfly species prey upon pest insects, including aphids and leafhoppers.

With a few exceptions hoverflies are distinguished from other flies by having a spurious vein, located parallel to their fourth longitudinal wing vein." - Wikipedia

Reference: http://www.odonata.bogfoot.net/docs/Odonata%202015%20Jackson%20Bottom%20(day%202).pdf

Striped Meadowhawk - S. pallipes - striped thorax
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/62439945
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/62439009
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/62440223

"S. pallipes varies in a number of ways (geographically, individually, and with age). The pale thoracic stripes often darken and become very obscure with age—particularly late in the season. And the angle in this photo is not very helpful for assessing the thoracic pattern. So, just because pale thoracic stripes are not obvious on an individual, it doesn’t necessarily mean that it isn’t this species" @jimjohnson Curator

Cardinal Meadowhawk - S. illotum
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/50159817

Autumn Meadowhawk - plain thorax
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/62567136
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/62566709

(BTW I love that genus common name.)
Questions:
Is it a useful distinction (between striped and autumn Meadowhawks) that the Autumn Meadowhawk has a more pronounced spot on the front edge of each wing, towards the tip? @jimjohnson ppt says a "small amber patch" on leading edge, but with Striped meadowhawk there is the "maybe" distinction and with Autumn presumably it must always be present.
Answers: "In the case of the female (which this is), the scooped-shaped subgenital plate is diagnostic." arrowheadspiketail58
"Structural characters are always best when they are visible in photos." jimjohnson