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Hi,

All taken a few days ago,down in west sussex,in a place with woodland,stream,meadows and farmland.

I'd be very grateful for any id's,cos i dont have a clue.

The flies playing 'leapfrog',the 'jumper' had a lovely kind of amber coloured abdomen.

Im not great at sizing insects from memory,but i'll have a go if needed.

regards.

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first one (hope it works,didnt work last time?)

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this time maybe...brackets in filename removed?

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second one

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third one...the odd couple...notice the little fella in the corner

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the fourth

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and the fifth

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Hello!

Though no expert, I can name some of the flies:

1.) Sicus ferrugineus, Conopidae (not sure, if there are similar species).
2.) Myathropa florea, female, Syrphidae
3.) Sarcophaga sp., Sarcophagidae, and the tiny one a Chloropidae.
4.) Chloromyia formosa (?), female, Stratiomyidae.
5.) ? (possibly Sarcophagidae)

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I think that 5-th image is happy couple of Pollenia sp., Calliphoridae.

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The fourth and fifth: I think Microchrysa sp. and plain old Musca domestica (the male having yellow abdominal markings exclude Pollenia from the list of candidates ;)).

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The fourth and fifth: I think Chloromyia formosa female (the thoracic pile is rather pale for Microchrysa - but difficult to judge size) and plain old Musca autumnalis (male is brighter orange, and the eyes appear to be more approximated than domestica). ;)

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No problems with that Musca, but I think the soldier fly seems to be rather small (difficult to day but in comparisson with the leaf structure) and the legs too dark for Chloromyia.

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Thanks for all the helpful replies.

Heres another shot of the happy couple,one with that nice transluscent amber ish abdomen.

Number four was quite small,its on one of the smaller upper leaves of the nettle,at a rough guess i'd say 4mm.


cheers

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If number four was that small, then Paul wins! :@
Though I'm puzzled as to which species - antennae and legs rather dark, suggesting polita, but frons not metallic green suggesting cyaneiventris.
I guess that pale dusting on the mesonotum could be pollen.;)
Sometimes it's better to have the specimen!:D

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Bear in mind that im rubbish at recalling insect sizes.

I have a habit of over estimating the size,so i often make a guess,then chop it almost in half !:o

Not ideal i know,but im working on it