syrphid - Epistrophella

The variability in Vockeroth`

The variability in Vockeroth`s key ( The Insects and Arachnids of Canada Part 18 ) is totally amazing and somewhat incredible. The genus needs to be reviewed and maybe DNA sequencing may eventually sort it out.

… Bill Dean, 30 August, 2016 - 1:35pm

thanks to you and Martin

I wish all of my flies were this interesting

… Steve Scholnick, 30 August, 2016 - 10:39pm

watch out what you wish for..

watch out what you wish for... if all your flies were that difficult, it would take me forever to ID them!

… Martin Hauser, 30 August, 2016 - 10:42pm

wrong spin

not "difficult", "interesting" :-)

… Steve Scholnick, 30 August, 2016 - 10:53pm

Moved

Moved from Epistrophella emarginata.

… Martin Hauser, 30 August, 2016 - 12:47pm

Moved

Moved from Syrphini.

… Martin Hauser, 30 August, 2016 - 12:47pm

Moved

Moved from ID Request.

… Steve Scholnick, 12 August, 2016 - 10:40pm

There seems to some confusion

There seems to some confusion amongst Epistrophella, even amongst experts and there is the possibility of more than one species. The frons pattern is different in the black markings. However I would consider this to be Epistrophella emarginata. I will send it to Martin for an opinion when he is home from his travels.

… Bill Dean, 12 August, 2016 - 10:34pm

Epistrophella emarginata photo

I found a lateral view of a syrphid labeled Epistrophella emarginata on syrphidae.myspecies.info and that specimen also lacks a black margin on the abdomen (see the second photo from the right at http://syrphidae.myspecies.info/taxonomy/term/216/media). I can’t say how well that ID has been vetted.

… Steve Scholnick, 16 August, 2016 - 8:42pm

I see Dr. Ximo Mengual was th

I see Dr. Ximo Mengual was the photographer and author of the web page you posted and Martin has sent a picture of Epistrophella emarginata? to him before and he may well do the same with this one. There is nothing else it could be other than a new species and I am confident that it is Epistrophella emarginata. I think Martin is still away and I will send it to him the beginning of September and hopefully he will have time and opportunity to try and solve this one.
Good work on finding this web page.

… Bill Dean, 16 August, 2016 - 10:47pm

thanks again

I'm really curious to what they make of the fly. It's not often that I can get decent photos of a syrphid with that camera

… Steve Scholnick, 16 August, 2016 - 11:06pm

These are super pics and when

These are super pics and when this is sorted out they are going to be a really useful aid in future identifications.

… Bill Dean, 16 August, 2016 - 11:46pm

thanks Bill

I'll move it to Syrphini until you or Martin suggest another location

… Steve Scholnick, 12 August, 2016 - 10:39pm