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Hi,

is it possible to ID?

NE Poland 27042016

Best regards
Joao

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This might be Neoascia podagrica, but these flies are tricky. To differentiate between Neoascia and Sphegina one needs to see the wing venation.

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Ok, thanks for your reply.

I will check if I have a decent pictutre from the top!

Best regards
J

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Maybe it will help!

Regards
J

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Neoascia podagrica has darkened cross veins that form a right angle (see https://www.flick...638744863/ and compare with a Sphegina in http://syrphidae..../file/3049). I think we can see three straight dark lines here, so I would prefer that species. Labeling the pics "Neoascia cf. podagrica" should not be too wrong!

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Hi Sundew,

keep in mind that there are additional Neoascia with darkened cross veins. Par example N. interrupta which has a short third antennal segment and three pairs of spots (tergites 2-4 each one pair).
Very best regards

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Nice to hear from you, dear Piet - I have already missed you! Indeed I overlooked N. interrupta that is not comparatively illustrated in my book and usually looks more colourful than N. podagrica (see https://www.flick...383858487/). There seem to be yellow spots at the basal corners of tergite 4, so "N. cf. interrupta" would possibly be closer to the truth :).

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Dear Sundew, I missed you too! This female of Neoascia is indeed belonging to interrupta. I would expect this species in Poland in marshy areas surounding larger rivers and lakes or near Baltic Sea.
Very best regards
Piet

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Hi,

thanks you both for time and ID.

Best regards
Joao

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You can delete the "cf." :D Piet's identification is reliable without doubt.