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This fly here is, to my best guess from Collin's general insect field guide a Gymnocheta viridis. Can anyone confirm or refute this?

When I've positively identified it, the picture will be put on the Wikipedia, so to avoid any perpetuation of a mistake, it's essential that it is not the wrong species.

Unfortunately, I've only got this side view of the fly.

Thanks in advance,

Jens Nielsen
biologist and Wikipedian

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Looks like Gymnocheta viridis. It is a spring species, photo isn't yesterday's?
Nikita

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Hi Jens,

From one photo it is very hard to say any identification is 100% correct - most are just educated guesses. With a specimen the chances of a good identification are much higher because you can go through the entire process of keying it out and making sure you haven't made any bad assumptions.

That said, if the photo was taken in Spring then it is highly likely it is Gymnocheta viridis, but if was taken later then all bets are off ;)

Chris R.

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The photo was taken on May 28 this year in The Hague, Netherlands. Does that qualify for spring?

Anyway, are there any specific lookalike candidates? Gymnocheta sp. ?

Jens

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Hi Jens.
Let it be late spring. And the condition of your fly's wings show us that 28 may is not fly's happy birthday.
So, I think you may regard it as Gymnocheta viridis with very few doubts. More, Gymnocheta viridis is very common species, so any doubts have to count in favour of common species = Gymnocheta viridis;)
Nikita

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Interestingly, the Central European key says "Mid March to End June (especially Mid April to Mid May)", so it can occur later than I thought. In that case I'd be more certain to call it G.viridis :)

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Be it G. viridis then! Thanks for the advice!

It is now put on the wikipedia http://en.wikiped...ta_viridis and also with a link from the Tachinidae.