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I only got this single blurry image from about 3 metres away. Insect would not allow closer approach. Very wary and fast flying. One of several flying around/feeding on a clump of low growing flowering bushes in the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix, Arizona on 15th October 2013. Looks like a Syrphid? Large - about 18mm long. In life and from behind the silver spots appeared to be a pale iridescent blue.

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Picture

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Bombyliidae, very common in the dry Southwest.

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Thanks John

I thought the wing profile and spots looked a bit like those of UK Bombyliidae and should have noticed the veins upswept to the costa near the wing tip - bamboozled by the abdominal spots, which UK beeflies don't have.