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Photo#13522
Odontomyia sp. - Odontomyia cincta - female

Odontomyia sp. - Odontomyia cincta - Female
Petroglyphs Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada
June 15, 2004
Size: about 11mm
Compared this photo with specimens in the insect collection at the University of Guelph. O. cincta was a match but this is only an eye-ball identification, didn't key it out, so would not want to say for sure.

Saw these bright emerald flies a couple of times in 2004 coming to shrub flowers. This one was caught and cooled in the refrigerator so it would sit still for its picture. Dusty appearence is due to moth scales (I should really keep clean jars available for flies and beetles and not re-use my moth jars).

Odontomyia cincta Olivier
This is Odontomyia cincta Olivier

Key
I came across a key to the species of Odontomyia today. See here. It's pretty old, but probably works fairly well. I don't know if there is a more recent revision for this genus.

 
Probably
The Manual of Nearctic Diptera still refers to this paper as key for the genus Odontomyia so I think it is safe to asume it was the last one published.

Paul

http://www.diptera.info

Strats vs. Syrphs.
One could be forgiven for not understanding why this is not a syrphid fly. Note the sharp, short spines projecting off the back part of the thorax on this specimen. That is one way to tell immediately that this is not a syrphid, but a stratiomyid instead.

 
Yep
Unfortunately, it does not work both ways. If spines are absent, you may still have a strat in your hands.

Paul

http://www.diptera.info

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