---

Hello to all!
This fly looks to me like Rhingia. Am I right or could it be different in the neotropics? Size about 10-12mm.

19.8.2009, Ecuador, Prov. Tungurahua, near Baños, about 1900m asl

---

2nd

---

3rd

---

Hi,
Rhingia does occur in the Neotropics, but this is a species of Copestylum. The wing venation could tell you this, but this is not visible on this picture. But Rhingia-species don't have such elongate third antennal segment and plumose arista.
I don't know which species it is. Copestylum is an extremely large genus with >300 described species and probably just as many undescribed species in the Neotropics, which all look very(!) different from each other.
You should start collecting syrphids, besides photographing them!

---

Thank you very much for all the information, Menno!
About collecting I'm seriously thinking about starting with Tabanids, because they are very fascinating, too, and I kill them anyway (only I have to change my way of killing them, otherwise they can be used only for DNA-analysis :D).
Since I'm not a scientist but aficionado of nature primarily as long as it's alive, I have set my personal determination limit on what can be seen on photographies, of course always dependent on experts like you telling me how far determination can go with the limited information a picture can give.

---

Hi Rupert,
It's wise to restrict your serious collecting efforts to certain groups. But if you ever come across a Microdon species in Ecuador or other tropical areas, please think of me and collect it...

---

If you do choose tabanids then you will have a friend in Theo :D

I have never wanted to collect them because you have to put yourself into situations where tabanids are flying ... and biting ;) I prefer to visit habitats without biting insects (if possible) ;)