Hoverfly

A female Ferdinandea cuprea (Diptera: Syrphidae).

Photos taken in the Wilderness, Whiteknights Park, Reading, UK, on 2012-08-22.

Conopid Fly

A Conopid fly, probably Physocephala rufipes (Diptera: Conopidae).  This specimen was actually dead.

Photos taken in Whiteknights Park, Reading, UK, on 2012-07-07.

Tephritid Fly

Tephritid fly Sphenella marginata (Diptera: Tephritidae).  The host plants for its larvae are various ragworts and groundsels (Senecio sp and Jacobeae sp).

Photos taken in the field below Chazey Wood, near Caversham, UK, on 2012-07-08.

Viper's Bugloss

A flower of viper's bugloss, Echium vulgare.  From the front it looked like this:

Late in the season, dead flower heads make the full plant look rather tatty:

Photos taken in Chazey Wood, near Caversham, UK, on 2012-08-20.

Big-Nosed Hoverfly

A male Rhingia rostrata (Diptera: Syrphidae).  Distinguished from the more common Rhingia campestris by the lack of any black markings along the side of the abdomen.  Also, the 'snout' is slightly shorter.

Photos taken in the field below Chazey Wood, near Caversham, UK, on 2012-08-20.