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Trying to figure out this Phaonia female from Massachusetts, USA.

Photographed by Tom Murray on https://www.inatu.../224233790

Keying with Malloch (1922) and Hucket (1965) don't lead to anything conclusive. There are two very small hairs on the meron in front of the posterior spiracle. Body length is about 6.5 mm as shown. Can relate specific characters if needed or add other photos.

Maybe it can't be identified to lack of recent work in the Nearctic, but possibly it can be narrowed down.

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Dorsal

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Face

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Front legs

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Abdomen

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After seeing a second specimen of this species (https://www.inatu.../228856358), I now think it is Phaonia pulvillata (Stein).

ID based on the characters in Malloch's (1923) key and his comments that the abdomen is largely yellowish and that the front tibiae have a median posterior bristle.

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Recently we published Review of the Phaonia pallida group (Diptera: Muscidae), see: https://ia802808.us.archive.org/13/items/ent27_3_315_322_Vikhrev_Erofeeva_for_Inet/ent27_3_315_322_Vikhrev_Erofeeva_for_Inet.pdf
Here Palaearctic Ph. subventa is reported from USA. Also detailed characters and variability of this species was discussed. RI and Massachusetts are almost the same. I suppose it is your answer.

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Thanks Nikita. I had seen your paper on the Palearctic pallida group, but had not considered it likely to be one of those species. Using your key, the specimens I have would key directly to Phaonia kowarzii [DC 2+3, yellow legs, yellow palps, postpronotal lobe yellowish].

I don't think it is Phaonia subventa as, despite its variability, other key characters don't match: DC are 2+3, radial node on underside of wing has several setulae, aristal hairs are quite long, lacks interfrontal setae, crossveins not infuscate, pedicel yellowish, and there are no presutural acr.

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Considering characters you wrote, I have to agree: alas, it isn't Ph. subventa.