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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Flies (Diptera) » Aschiza » Syrphid Flies (Syrphidae) » Syrphinae » Bacchini » Platycheirus
Photo#252677
Sryphid Fly - Platycheirus
Copyright © 2009 HandsOff

Sryphid Fly - Platycheirus
Sunnyvale, Santa Clara County, California, USA
January 30, 2009
Size: around 15 mm
Is the dark coloring separating the top and bottom of the abdomen what is meant by the term "Margined"?

Images of this individual: tag all
Sryphid Fly - Platycheirus Sryphid Fly - Platycheirus Sryphid Fly - Platycheirus Sryphid Fly - Platycheirus Sryphid Fly - Platycheirus Sryphid Fly - Platycheirus
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Contributed by HandsOff on 9 February, 2009 - 8:04pm

Margined - yes, that's it.
Nice series, Mac.
… Ron Hemberger, 9 February, 2009 - 10:36pm login or register to post comments

 
Thanks for the help!
I can see why this would be very useful in descriptions!

Incidentally, this fly was somewhat unusual in that at certain angles both the body and the wings took on a dark tint, to the point where the fly would appear one solid color.

Since I depend on the markings to help identification I did not include the "tinted windshield" view, but I do think it is interesting in light of the fact that very muted markings might be characteristic of this genus. Comments on the guide page suggest that many are dark, but the feature I am describing is slightly different.

See the last frame - It is the same fly!
… HandsOff, 10 February, 2009 - 8:25am login or register to post comments

 
Re: The last frame
That's how mine look. Before you posted, I didn't really appreciate the pattern.
… Ron Hemberger, 10 February, 2009 - 10:24am login or register to post comments

 
I am pretty sure that this has helped me...
...identify one from a year ago. You can see the markings, though they are muted. See:



I never posted this one because I was so frustrated that you could barely see the markings. There is also a frequent syrphid visitor that appears purple...I am pretty sure it is the same species as the one in this post.
… HandsOff, 10 February, 2009 - 11:00am login or register to post comments

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