Verrall's Spearhorn Chrysotoxum verralli

Although seemingly distinctive, this is one of several very similar species. I failed to catch this one but I think it is identifiable from the photos. Several of the photos show the even-width black bands on the base of the tergites which helps eliminate elegans but it is a little harder to make out the relative lengths of the first two segments of the antennae. After comparing it with photos of both species by Steven Falk, I think I can just see this clearly enough in some of the photos to rule out cautum and make this verralli.

female Verrall's Spearhorn Chrysotoxum verralli, Wendling Beck Environment Project (Norfolk, UK), 4th July 2025