Learn about flies

Found on allotment this morning 29/04/2020, SP907258 Leighton Buzzard, Beds., possibly Myopa testacea? Can anyone confirm ID?

Hi All,

Decided to use the lockdown period to try something new and venture a little more in to the world of Diptera. I've used keys to get this down to Chyromyidae but if I'm wrong I'd be very grateful if you could flag it (and let me know where I might have strayed). 

Many thanks in advance,

Cathy B

I would welcome help with identifying this tachinid please.  I have caught several this April alongside a pond on our farm in Devon.  My attempts to key it out using Belshaw have been unsuccessful.  Best wishes to all, Rob.

Hi All

I encountered this fly in the garden a couple of days back and the closest I could get was a Flat-footed fly, Polyporivora.

Is it possible to get to species level?

Thanks

Nev

PS for recording purposes, postcode M33 4AN, observed 11 04 2020

I've tried keying this out via various routes and can't even get it into a genus that seems plausible! Not the most distinctive fly, and not the best photos, but if it rings a bell with anyone I'd be grateful for suggestions as to what it might be.

This fly was found 'skating' on the surface of a small peaty pool on moorland on Islay, last September. I think it is a female and I've keyed it out to Hydrophorus albiceps. However, according to some online sources albiceps is supposed to have a silvery frons, at least in the males, whereas mine is a dark yellowish colour.

Does this seem correct for female H. albiceps?

Could anyone confirm suggested ID for this fly is right, or perhaps correct my error. Hoping to sort out some of the common species that I tend to ignore.

Thanks, John

Can anyone help ID this Muscid. Found in Jan 2020, north Worcestershire, wooded churchyard. I'm sure it's a common species but having trouble! Will post info on iRecord if identified.

Thanks, John

This female Muscid - either Helina or Phaonia (I think Phaonia, but can't be sure) has pale fine hairs on the underside of the scutellum, which is an unusual feature, but I'm damned if I can determine which species it is! Can anyone suggest a species, or what to check? It has two PDs on the hind tibia. The abdomen in the image is darker than it should be, due to discolouration