Disclaimer

In most cases, each Hoverfly illustrated here has been identified from a number of photos.
If, after using the appropriate Identification Keys, I'm in doubt, I've said so.
Thus photos of Brachyopa for instance are included to show at least the variation between species.
I could kill them and find out for certain, but their lives are more important to them than to me.
I'm hoping the next generation of digital camera will reduce uncertainty further.
Contact me if you wish to comment on any IDs.

Acknowledgement

I wouldn't have attempted to start learning about these insects without two things:
The digital camera, which allows you to take a lot of hurried photos and maybe get the one good one you needed,
and of course books: "British Hoverflies", by Alan Stubbs and Steven Falk,
and Mark van Veen's "Hoverflies of Northwest Europe".

Some useful links