Robber Fly sp. 3 - Microstylum morosum

Moved

… Bob Biagi, 6 November, 2019 - 10:57pm

should be moved again....

This is a male of M. morosum. We've collected and seen many of these fantastic flies in eastern New Mexico, and the opaque wings (as opposed to the "milky" wings of galactodes) and its colorful eyes are characteristic of M. morosum...

… beetledude63, 6 November, 2019 - 5:20pm

Moved

Moved from Robber Flies.

Eric Fisher agrees with the ID on this guy as Microstylum galactodes.
He says: "This is Microstylum galactoides - little sibling to M. morosum."

… Bob Biagi, 24 June, 2019 - 5:12pm

Robber Fly sp. 3

If it would help, I likely have more frames that show the abdomen in a better light? Or whatever angle or body part you might prefer better exposed or more in focus?

… Robert C. Turner, 24 June, 2019 - 10:48am

Beautiful shot

Robert. And this is Microstylum. I thought it must be morosum but the more I look at it, with its shaded body, I think it must be galactodes. NM has both species. This is a male.

… Herschel Raney, 24 June, 2019 - 7:21am

Looks like...

Please double-check the species, because the light stripe on the dark thorax looks very different from all of the other images of galactodes, which is why I suggested morosum. Can you please tell us the key features that separate them?
Thanks!

… Bob Biagi, 24 June, 2019 - 9:22am

I have no

key to separation of these big guys. These legs are awful dark for morosum. Those males usually have extensive red in the forelegs. And I don't know the variability of the thoracic halo in either species.

Like I said, I could go either way, but there are some characters off for both, just from the photo.

… Herschel Raney, 24 June, 2019 - 12:14pm

Robber Fly sp. 3

I really appreciate the constructive criticism/educational comments! I'm relatively new to insect ID, more into the photography of them. However, I want to learn all I can so the comments are greatly appreciated, and you are right, my overestimation of the size.....it was more likely 2 inches.....much larger than the ones I'm used to seeing!

… Robert C. Turner, 20 June, 2019 - 6:14pm

Moved

Moved from ID Request.

… Bob Biagi, 20 June, 2019 - 5:40pm

Male

That's a really big Robber, wow! However, maybe it was closer to 2", lol. This looks like a male Microstylum morosum. (south-western) Hold on for an expert.
Please remember to check the "age" box for any of your submissions, whenever you know the age or stage of your bugs. Fully developed wings = Adult

… Bob Biagi, 20 June, 2019 - 5:31pm