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I could not place this fly. My first thoughts were bombyliidae but the hairless thorax was a strong argument against. Possibly sirphydae.

Length around half inch or more, about the same size as Ligyra tantalus, which I see quite often.

Location - Adjacent to a small stream. Altitude 1000m. Outskirts of Bandung, W.Java, Indonesia.

I hope someone can help me with an ID. Many thanks.

Dave

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I think Syphridae: Eristalinae.

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Good call. I have images of megacephalus and the eye shape and size matches. It doesn't look like I am going to get any closer to a species though, not many people here in Indonesia studying flies.

Thanks.

Dave

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Change the title to Syrphidae and an expert may notice it.

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I think this is Phytomia, posssibly chrysopyga.

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Thank you Tony and John for your input. I have searched best I can on the web and came up dry. I wouldn't have expected such a large and distinctive fly to be so difficult.

Dave

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Here is a close-up of the wing on another specimen. It is not the whole wing, but it might help you.

Some similarities to phytomia zonata: http://www.diptera.info/photogallery.php?photo_id=9038

A close up look at the following link of a phytomia shows two distinct common features:
http://www.diptera.info/forum/viewthread.php?thread_id=63304&highlight=Phytomia&pid=268974#post_268974

Dave

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Yes, Tony is right, it is a female Phytomia chrysopyga!

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Gerard - it is so good to be able to put this gorgeous fly to bed. This one will certainly be going in the gallery too.

I have shied away from photographing diptera, as I find them so difficult to ID. Thanks to your efforts, I am feeling a lot more enthusiastic about the subject. There is so much material available to me too.

Thread renamed - thanks to Tony and Gerard.

Here is an image of the male, to complete the set.

Dave