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Help with identifications, field craft and other topics relating to Diptera

Ichneumon-like syrphid

Submitted by ASmith on

Hi - Can anyone help me pin down this ichneumon-like syrphid - the nearest thing I have found is Chalcosyrphus but that seems unrecorded from here. 

 It was collected in Kelso, Scottish Borders 21st June, 2025.

Lauxaniidae key

Submitted by sifolinia on

Please could someone tell me where I can find Mark Mitchell's key to Lauxaniidae?

I have a Calliopum that is evading identification. I believe it's a female, though it has a thin, bifid sternal projection that's puzzling me. I'll dissect it, but some decent diagrams or any extra information would help.

ID help

Can anyone identify this small fly for me please? Found in Norwich a couple of days ago. It's about 5mm long. I tried ObsIdentify but it kept saying it was Tachypeza nubila which I’m not sure is right. I'm sorry the photos are so bad - it was very mobile despite being kept in the fridge overnight. More information in the alt text and I can try and post higher resolution photos if necessary. Many thanks.

Calyptrates Vs Acalyptrates

Submitted by GeoB7 on

Hello!

I'm fairly new to diptera id, and have found the forum's intro to families key really useful. However I sometimes fall at the first hurdle of differentiating calyptrates and acalyptrates. I would love some general tips if anyone has any. I've also attached a photo of one of my classic confusions: does this count as a cleft in the 2nd antennal segment?! 

Any help would be greatly appreciated, thank you! 

George

Psychodidae Help

This keyed out fairly easily to psychodidae, but it's lacking the classic pubescence. Can anyone see where I've gone wrong or are there some species that are just less hairy? Thanks!

Can anyone help with this Simulium ID

This blackfly was caught in a moth trap 17/18th March in East Lothian. I have been trying to identify it. I think it is a Simulium species but cannot get further than that. Is anyone able to help from these photos ? Thankyou, Shelagh McDowall.

Photo uploads

Apologies that in recent months the photo upload process was not working as it should have done. The process has now been updated, and there is some revised guidance on the Forums help page.

Hopefully that will enable you to add photos more easily but let me know if there are any problems.