Hoverfly

From two years ago: a female Volucella zonaria (Diptera: Syrphidae).  A hornet-mimic.

Photo taken in the Wilderness, Whiteknights Park, Reading University grounds, Reading, UK on 2010-07-25.

Soldier Beetle

A yellow soldier beetle, probably Cantharis decipiens (Coleoptera: Cantharidae).  Recognizable by the pattern of black and yellow on the pronotum (the plate just behind the head).

 

Compare with the similar Rhagonycha lignosa.  There are several keys to UK soldier beetles available out on the web: here, here and here, for example.

Photos taken in Whiteknights Park, Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2012-04-27.

Tachinid Fly

From a walk around the lakes yesterday afternoon: my first Tachina lurida (Diptera: Tachinidae).  A rather teneral female that must have just emerged from its host, the host probably being the larva of a Noctuid moth.  The black lump on the fly's face seems to be the  ptilinum which it inflated to break out of its pupa (which was probably itself still inside the empty shell of the host).

Tachina ursina is similar but has a whitish band near the tip of the abdomen and generally is less orange-looking (though see here).

Identification confirmed by Chris Raper here at Diptera.info.

Photos taken in Whiteknights Park, Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2012-04-27.

Snipe Fly

From two years ago: a male Rhagio scolopaceus (Diptera: Rhagionidae).  See here for a female.

Photo taken in Whiteknights Park, Reading, UK, on 2010-05-31.

Muscid Fly

From a couple of years ago: a female Muscid fly, probably Helina evecta (Diptera: Muscidae).  It is also possible that it is Helina annosum but that species is reputed to be quite rare, at least in the UK.  The females of this species seem lighter in colour than the males.

Photos taken in Whiteknights Park, Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2010-09-26.