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Hi, I would appreciate any help to identify this fly.

I found it several times in September 2007 close to ponds in a cork-oak forest in Palam?s, Girona (NE Spain).

It looks to me like it could belong to Stratiomyiidae. It has a very characteristic eye colour.

Thanks

Miquel

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It is a Syrphid. Change the title to attract the Syrphid guys.

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Looks like Orthonevra


Theo

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Yep, Theo's right, and I think it's a male Orthonevra nobilis!
greetings,

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May it be Riponnensia splendens instead?

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Crossed my mind too... Just like Lejogaster tarsata (I found specimens with dark tarsae, and the shape of the antennae can vary and could be this pic doesn't show it from the best angle). But this species has the eyes separated in the male.
Anyway, I am a bit confused though, by the reddish looking antennae (flash?). A 100% ID is risky.

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Ooops, my mistake!
Indeed a male Riponnensia splendens! I caught these guys myself in France, and I should know the habitus!
Theo said Orthonevra and I thought (without books) it should be nobilis then. Riponnensia didn't even cross my mind.....:(:(
It's time spring starts, so we can fresh up the knowledge on live animals...:D:D
Greetings,

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I'm oldfashioned, in my head Ripponensia is still an Orthonevra.
It clearly insn't, but my database between my ears don't want make the necessary changes. Sorry.
(Close readers will notice the 'looks like' part)

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I never had a longicornis in my hands... again: the agle of the pic offers some room for doubt.

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I have 8 pictures of this species taken in the same place on close dates, from different orientations. They all show the red antennae, so it might not be a flash effect. I attach a second picture from a different angle.

Thanks a lot for all your comments!

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Do you have a sideview of the face?

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This is the most similar to a side view of the face that I have.

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It's defenitely Riponnensia (no O. nobilis, for the eyes are meeting over a very short distance in nobilis).
Because I cannot reliably estimate the length of the 3rd antennae, we will stick to R. splendens/longicornis.
[Between these two, I would guess longicornis though]
Would be nice to collect some next year and send them to me please. :p

Can you describe me the exact environment where you found them?

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The environment is a cork-oak (Quercus suber) and Aleppo pine (Pinus halepensis) forest, with holm-oak (Quercus ilex) along the temporary brooks, situated near the coast (less than 4km from the shore-line, about 25 m high). See link:

http://maps.google.es/maps?f=q&hl=es&geocode=&q=Palam%C3%B3s&ie=UTF8&ll=41.880042,3.11162&spn=0.029907,0.056992&t=h&z=14&om=1

The flies were found always just beside the small ponds that remain in very few places of the dried brooks even at the end of the summer. They are very shadow ponds inside the forest, with only limited sun at about midday.

I have only noticed this species at the end of September.

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Aha, september, ofcourse! That would point to splendens, not longicornis.

Longicornis is found to fly in june. Splendens from june till the end of september! Stupid of me... sorry, should have read your posting AND my literature better :o

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Thank you very much Andr? for your effort to identify this fly!

Miquel

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And you made nice pictures ;)
Do you collect as well, or just make pictures?

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Just make picture. Otherwise I would be pleased to send you some specimens. Sorry.

Miquel

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Iberia needs more collectors :)
There still is so much to discover... :|