...and thanks for the tips that led to your conclusion. This may be an instance where the text on a node is more valuable than the images for people trying to recognize this species!

I was leaning that direction myself...

The longbodies are sometimes hard to sort out; I blew an ID on one of mine recently. Allograpta is much more likely to hold its abdomen curled than is Sphaerophoria. The "blobs" towards the south end of the abdomen here lead me to Allograpta; I think they're some mutant version of the oblique marks that delineate the species.

Thanks for the continuing education!

Looking at this thumbnail, and it had a familiar look to it:



I have seen in Allograpta obliquathe area, as well, though they seem to have a slightly different appearance, seeming flatter and to spend a greater percentage of the time actually hovering, and not so much on the flowers themselves, though this is just an impression.

Thanks for the help, Ken and Ron!

A. micrura is another strong candidate. Guess we'll have to go to DNA on this one. LOL!

Did you guys see this post and the one it links to?

The circular "blobs" there remind me of yours, Mac.

I guess Allograpta will be the last word.

...for now!

.

I think it is a Sphaerophoaria. In the first pic you can see the big genitalia, which are typical for SPhaerophoria.. Also the abdominal markings and the black parts of the femora are untypical for Allograpta... It should be Sphaerophoria sulphuripes...