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Hello,
is it possible to get an ID for this Phaonia?
Sighted on 18.05.2025 in Germany, North Rhine-Westphalia in the garden. Body-size approximately 6 to 7 mm
Thank you.
Bernd

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#2

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#3

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#4

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The images are quite blurry - hard to make an ID or even a serious guess unfortunately. But anyhow I guess it could be the female Phaonia fuscata which I've never seen before.
- legs predominantly yellow
- crossveins significantly infuscated (but not a P. tuguriorum!)
- antennal base black
- arista long plumose?
- parafacial with a transverse black spot near the insertion of the antenna at #3???

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Hi Eric,
thanks for your effort and your assessment. The arista has long plumose. Sorry, I don't understand the last question. I don't know what you mean.
On observation.org, depending on the pictures, you get anywhere from 100% Phaonia fuscata to 100% Phaonia tuguriorum.
I'll classify the fly as Phaonia cf. fuscata.
Greetings
Bernd

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P. tuguriorum and P. fuscata have 2 main differences when seen from above: P. fuscata has 3 DCs whereas P. tuguriorum has 4 Dcs / P. tuguriorum has a pale brown tip to the scutellum whereas P. fuscata has a fairly uniformly coloured scutellum.

Observation.org can be good for some species but I would be very careful with many of their ID suggestions. Even if it says 100%, treat that as a starting point for further detailed research of your own.

James

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Hi James, thanks for your explanation. I'm not an expert. What are DCs and where can I find them?
Greetings
Bernd

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Hi Bernd, DC = dorsocentral setae
You may find all terms in this very useful glossary: https://diptera.i.../terms.php

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Hi Eric,
thank yo for the information. It will help me a lot.
greetings
Bernd