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Genus Empis for sure. Might this be Empis sinuosa??? Sorry I couldn't photograph the male. I have pictures of a male that matches this female to perfection in the same spot but from last year. If you think it would be interesting I can post it in another thread.

Avilés, Asturias, N Spain in rural area. 28.IV.2016

Thanks in advance for any help :)

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A lateral view.

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And last picture, a frontal view.

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Not a chance? :-(

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[Hesitating...] What was the size?

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Thanks for trying, Paul! :)

Let's say about the size of an Empis (Pachymeria) sp. (which clearly is not) or an Empis (Leptempis) sp. (I have seen Empis abdominalis before, and was about its size). Somehow biggish. The pictures were taken with a compact camera and still allowed decent results. So, not precisely a small Empis ;)

It was feeding on a well developed typical Umbeliferae that might be Oenanthe crocata. Compare the size of the flowers and that should help to have an idea of the size of the fly too.

Good luck and thanks again! :)

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It resembles Empis tessellata castellana as described in Die Fliegen but I do not know what the present status of the that taxon is.

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Paul, I am ashamed for this very late reply :S I have tried to solve the mystery of the status of the taxon for a while. It seems that it is Empis (Euempis) morio nowadays. But I forgot to say something here... Disgraceful.

The problem is that i believe (I might be wrong) that Empis morio has a dark F1. And there is something dirturbing in this fly for Euempis: bristles on legs don't seem to be strong enough. I think it should belong to another subgenus. But of course, only my thoughts ;)

Anyway, thanks a lot for the effort, I am/was completely concious of the difficulty :)

Best

Piluca

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Well, one of the Mediterranean Polyblepharis species is also possible.

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Thanks again, Paul!! :) I am going to try in that direction ;)