globetails

genus Sphaerophoria

Member of typical hover flies (subfamily Syrphinae)
hover flies (family Syrphidae)
aschizan flies (zoosection Aschiza)
cyclorrhaphan flies (infraorder Cyclorrhapha)
brachyceran flies (suborder Brachycera)
flies (order Diptera)
insects (class Insecta)
hexapods (subphylum Hexapoda)
arthropods (phylum Arthropoda)
animals (kingdom Animalia)

Caution: There may be other wild species of this genus not yet included in this guide.

Males have an elongated and narrow abdomen, eyes touching at the top, and no forehead stripe. Females have a wider and more football-shaped abdomen, eyes separated at the top, and a forehead stripe.

forked globetail
Sphaerophoria sulphuripes

posterior patterning different
forehead stripe on females broadens greatly near antennae
male and female example photos

tufted globetail
Sphaerophoria contigua

posterior patterning different
forehead stripe on females broadens somewhat near antennae
male and female example photos

1 observed taxon / 1 unobserved taxon / 1 key

Chris’s observations: 1 (research grade)

Locations:

Dimond Canyon Trail, Oakland

Months:

Jun.: 1

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Taxon info: iNaturalist – BugGuide

Bay Area species: iNaturalist