small dark hoverfly with wings covering abdomen - possibly Melanostoma mellinum? - Platycheirus obscurus - BugGuide.Net

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Photo#850123

Copyright © 2013 Victoria MacPhail

small dark hoverfly with wings covering abdomen - possibly Melanostoma mellinum? - Platycheirus obscurus -

Short Hills Provincial Park, St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada
September 18, 2013
Size: ~8mm

Observed foraging on white wood aster in a deciduous(sugar maple, oak, beech) forest at 1pm. I could not get a clear view of the abdominal patterns as the wings always covered it, although there are hints of a faint yellow pattern. The photos are not great quality, but I would appreciate ID help before they are "frassed".

I tried using the CJAI Key to the Genera of Nearctic Syrphidae and I came up with several possibilities, including Melanostoma mellinum (best fit), Chalcosyrphus nemorum, Xylota sp, or Platycheirus sp., but due to the poor photos, I could be off.

Images of this individual: tag all

small dark hoverfly with wings covering abdomen - possibly Melanostoma mellinum? - Platycheirus obscurus - male

small dark hoverfly with wings covering abdomen - possibly Melanostoma mellinum? - Platycheirus obscurus - male

small dark hoverfly with wings covering abdomen - possibly Melanostoma mellinum? - Platycheirus obscurus - male

Contributed by Victoria MacPhail on 1 October, 2013 - 10:02pm
Last updated 5 October, 2014 - 5:40am

Moved

Moved from Syrphid Flies.

… Kelsey J.R.P. Byers, 5 October, 2014 - 5:40am

Moved

Moved from ID Request.

… v belov, 10 October, 2013 - 12:23pm

Tough!

Elongated, pointy face doesn't appear on Melanosoma, Platycheirus, Chalcosyrphus, or Xylota. Also, the latter two have different legs, both with enlarged rear femur. I wish I could be more helpful and encouraging.

Have you checked the Ontario field guide?
http://www.canacoll.org/Diptera/Staff/Skevington/Syrphidae/speciespages.htm

… Ron Hemberger, 2 October, 2013 - 12:01am

Thanks...

I did check the ON field guide, which is a great resource but it's missing 1/4 of the genera. And of course, this individual did not want to show me it's abdomen, even when I saw it later in the day and on another day! I have a feeling having the wings always overlap on its back is a characteristic, but it doesn't help in the keys.

Thanks for helping with the corrections - knowing what is is *not* helps too :)

… Victoria MacPhail, 2 October, 2013 - 8:53am

Glad to be of some assistance. WIsh I could have helped more.

If I get a brainstorm, I'll be back.

… Ron Hemberger, 2 October, 2013 - 11:23am

Platycheirus obscurus

I sent the photos to Jeff Skevington who passed them along to Andrew Young, who was able to identify it. Turns out that this is a male Platycheirus obscurus.

… Victoria MacPhail, 25 October, 2013 - 3:59pm

Wonderful! Glad you got an ID to species.

.

… Ron Hemberger, 25 October, 2013 - 6:33pm

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