Paul, how do you tell the genus on these guys? I thought Odontomyia usually had a black-and-GREEN pattern. Obviously not always true. Please share the characteristics that differentiate Odontomyia from Stratiomys. Thank you.

It is partly experience that tells me that this is Odontomyia but that does not really help you much, does it?
First, forget (not) all about the Odontomyia being green and black. SOme typically are, others are not. The one's we have here in Holland are very diverse: most species are green with black, but we have got one almost completely black (O. tigrina), one which you might describe as having a Stratiomys pattern (O. ornata; but the next question might be what a Stratiomys pattern is) and one is blackish with many hairs (O. argentata).

Normally, wing venation is a character that should lead you to Startiomyinae but that is not quite visible in this picture (wing venation usually is tricky in soldier flies, not just on pictures). What seems to be clear is the fact that the discal cell is very small (in truth, you do not see it at all on this picture). Many of the Odontomyiini have that. But to really separate Odontomyia from Stratiomys you have to look at the antennae. The basal segments in Odontomyia are always shorter:
\/
|| : Stratiomys

\/ : Odontomyia
''
I hope this comes across. ;)

Paul

http://www.diptera.info

Is this a female? Patrick's http://bugguide.net/node/view/12962/bgimage has big eyes that meet on top and I assume that it is male. Am I right?

You could not be more right! :D

Paul

http://www.diptera.info

Thank you Paul for the identification.