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Hi,
Yesterday I took insect pictures in a wetland in southwestern Germany and came across a remarkable tiny fly that was unknown to me. Some research led to Dolichocephala (Empididae), and I suppose it is either D. guttata or D. oblongoguttata, as the wings are only moderately spotted. BTW, GBIF still claims today that the latter species name is a synonym of the further, though Drake and Chandler (1997) made clear that both are valid species. I suppose we should follow their arguments, shouldn't we?
Another species that is said to occur in our region is D. thomasi. Can this be excluded? I did not find a key or a description pointing out the differences.
Thanks in advance for any comments! Sundew

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Some more pics. My camera had difficulties focusing on the tiny fly, the Raynox macro lens reached its limits.

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D. thomasi belongs to the ocellata group but this is a species of the guttata group. These can only be indetified reliable using male genitalia. Your specimen(s?) are female or at least not showing male genitalia. So it will remain D. guttata group sp.

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Great - thanks for the confirmation. According to Meyer & Stark (2015) D. guttata and D. oblongoguttata are the only representatives of this group that occur here in Baden-Wuerttemberg. And you treat them as separate species, don't you?
All pictures show the same female.
Now that I know that genus, I hope to find further species. With 72, I am still learning!

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Indeed, as does the recent key to Middle European aquatic Empididae.