---

This was not a good day for the poor Syrphid, who crossed paths with a Jumping Spider.

Looking at Internet pictures, my best effort at determining the genus of this fly was either Melanostoma or Platycheirus. ID help would be appreciated.

I found these two along the bank of a stream, in an area with woods and meadows both. West Virginia USA, 9 May 2005. Length not recorded.

---

Hi
I don't think it is Melanostoma or Platycheirus as it appears to have a yellow scutellum (all Bachinae have black scutellums). It is one of teh Syrphinae, but I can't suggest any better than that as I only know the UK fauna.

Cheers

---

Thanks for your help, Nigel. I'm adding one more photo, from a slightly different angle, that shows a wing better, and better shows the center of the dorsal surface of the abdomen.

---

Hello,

for me it looks like a kind of Parasyrphus sp.

Gisela

---

Thanks very much, Gisela!

---

Yes I would go with Parasyrphus or Melangyna if in Europe. Don't know whar else you get in N America?

---

Hmmm,
Well, if you ask me I would vote for one of the American Syrphus species!
Greetings

---

Nearctic genera of subfamily Syrphinae are: Paragus, Toxomerus, Baccha, Xanthandrus, Melanostoma, Platycheirus, Chrysotoxum, Syrphus, Epistrophe, Eupeodes, Ocyptamus, Pseudodoros, Allograpta, Sphaerophoria. This is from Arnett, American Insects, 2000.