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Photo#148217
Toxomerus politus ?? - Toxomerus occidentalis - female

Toxomerus politus ?? - Toxomerus occidentalis - Female
Aromas, San Benito County, California, USA
September 25, 2007
Size: ~8mm
Saw this guy on a yarrow in our garden (live oak/chaparral habitat), I think it's Toxomerus politus. I couldn't get right above him for a good dorsal shot. The pattern on the abdomen looks like T. politus, but the scutellum dosen't have a diffuse brown spot, as shown here.

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Toxomerus politus ?? - Toxomerus occidentalis - female Toxomerus politus ?? - Toxomerus occidentalis - female

I just want to say that these
I just want to say that these are terrific photos!

Toxomerus occidentalis
Check the pattern on the abdomen again. Geez, we need the vocabulary of artists to describe some of this stuff. T. politis has a more linear pattern, mainly striped. T. occidentalis has what I think look like outlines of chess pawns.

 
You're right Ron
I was hoping I had finally found T. politis, but the scutellum didn't look quite right, & now that you have described the pattern on the abdomen so succinctly, it's obviously not T. politis, but T. occidentalis. Thanks Ron.

 
You're welcome.
I'm looking for my T. politis, too! There are a lot of syrphids out now, all sizes and shapes. Wish more of them would alight in suitable places.