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Hello, I know this is a very rare species here. I have keyed it to Platycheirus sticticus, maybe I have got that wrong but I don't know what else it could be.

Taken on 28th August feeding on Lythrum salicaria next to a roadside drain in my garden, south of Lincoln UK.

Old woodlands and heathlands type habitat.

Two pics plus a 3rd crop of the front tarsus.

Any comments welcome. This cannot be P. albimanus.

Janet

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pic 2

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crop

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Have you tried Platycheirus scutatus?

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I can see where you're coming from Andre, the spots and all else do look very simialr but the front tarsi are much broader than this one.

I think I have got P. scutatus too, I have plenty of pics.

Here's the tarsus of the male.. I feel sure this is scutatus, the second tarsus segment is shallow in depth and all else looks to fit.

I took a lot of pics of the first male again yesterday but I still have to edit them.

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You are right about that, about the first tarsae! And it is strange indeed.
The bristles and tibia of the front leg of sticticus are very different though.
If this is not a 'disabled' male scutatus, it could be P. laskai. But, as has been stated before: only based on pics is too risky in many cases, and certainly in this one. Can you catch it?!

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Hmmm, I think you know how I feel about catching them Andre!

I had thought the fly I got two days ago on 1st September was the same as the fly in question, if not it does have the same front tarsi and I got an even better angle. There could be more than one of them, this one has a more worn looking face but maybe it's still the same fly. It was feeding in the same place.

It would be very interesting if it was P. laskai as that is not on our list!

http://www.hoverf...php?page=5

I've got four pics with a very good shot of the front leg and tarsus!

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#2

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#3

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#4

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My darling, please catch it and put it in the freezer. Then put it in a photobox with some cotton and send it to one of your specialists. Please! I am begging you!
And ofcourse, catch a male at least.
It is of scientific value: biogeography.

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The thought turns my stomach. I am a nurturer by nature, sorry!

No other thoughts then? Other than the two slightly longer hairs on the tibia, it still looks like P. sticticus to me. The key does mention having just a few scatterd short hairs on the tibia, these are long.

I haven't seen it again anyway, but might. To tease you a little more I have cropped off the front tarsus of the vertical shot.

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No comment.

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There is something about rarity which makes people want to remain silent.

I dare you!

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Do you have the right tarsae just as clear? And the bases of legs 2?

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As luck would have it, yesterday I got more pics of one which looks to be the same fly as the first one I posted!

I have got one reasonable pic of the right front tarsae, it then flew to the Lythrum and I got a few more pics but then a bee scared it away. All of those pics were from a similar angle, one of them does show the leg 2 base fairly well. This fly has a much paler mid femur than the second fly.

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You can see the shape of the spots better in this..

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The best shot I have showing leg 2 base

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A crop of the right front tarsae

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Dammit! Tomorrow you are going to kill one!
And after that, you go to a Cathlic church nearby and confess your sin. After the confession, your conciense is clear again.

What can I do to convince you? Is there anybody nearby to catch it for you instead?!
This is a very very unusual thing, and more than one flying around apparently.
It may even be an unknown species! I am not making a joke here.
Catch it, catch two... catch what you can. Males ofcourse, but also catch females flying around too! Please.