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hi flyforum,

Today I found some (I think) Phaonia-flies in the Amsterdam forest.
I know they are difficult to identify, and my picture is also no good for specific information..

These are the first Phaonia sp. I've seen this year.
Some early spring species?
Could this fly be Phaonia Valida(?)

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Hi Robert,
it is Phaonia tuguriorum to me.

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hi Stephane,

Thank you for your reaction.
What makes it P. tuguriorum for you?
Are you sure?

Today I did not succeed making a close picture of them.
They fly away very quickly..

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Within this group of similar Phaonia :
Crossveins strongly infuscated / fore tibia with posterior setae / 1 prescutellar ac -> tuguriorum (/ scutellata)
Crossveins slightly infuscated / fore tibia without posterior setae / (usualy) 2 prescutellar setae-> valida (/ errans)

Difference between scutellata and tuguriorum is based on frons width, colour of palpi/antennae and genae height.

This is NOT a real key but a synopsis of the differences separating these two.

For your second question, as ever, I can't be 100 % sure with Muscidae from a picture. Let's say 99 % sure.

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Thanks again Stephane,

I have to study on this a bit, where to find which hair ..
Genae = cheeks?

I'll come back later ;)

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Robert wrote :
Yes. ;)