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Dear Paul,

Firstly I have a general usage question : for more precision, my images are available in a larger size than the recommended 500 px for direct upload to the forum. Usually 900 x 675, sometimes even 1200 x 900. The files I speak about are compressed for the web, and uploaded via ftp on my personal space. You may download and use them freely for your database (the originals, much larger still, are avaiiable upon request).

The question is : should I just put a clickable link here, or use the img/img tag for immediate viewing ? Do you have a preferencce ?

Now back to my subject.

I have here three shots of a "soldier fly" (Oxycera sp, I would think).
It is somewhat similar to Oxycera rara (Scopoli, 1763) as picturd on page 151 of the Diptera Guide (in French) by J. & H. Haupt. It has some of the described characteristics, but not all.

Your opinion please ?

image 1

image 2

image 3

This Oxycera helped me to identify as Stratiomys sp the following fly, which kept me puzzled for a long time.

However, judging by :

The shape of the antennas,
The small discal cell + anal vein all the way to the wing tip,
the two "spurs" jutting out of the pronotum (one has really to look for them in this hairy jungle),

the habitus still points to Statiomys. This fly is about the double in size as compared to the preceding one (15mm versus 7-8mm).

image 4

image 5

Many thanks for your help and advice,

Dimitri

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The maximum width for the forum is 600 pix as more will strech the column too wide. You can place those (preferably) as link to your wons server space between [img ] tags. If you want larger picture to be available, you can add links to originals or optimised pictures in the message using [url ] tags.

And if I think images should be added to the Gallery, I will add them with much pleasure. I still have to think of a good way to add them, as the online procedure gives too many complications and the oflline procedure is complicated. LoL

I probably will get back to the other question later (if someone does not beat me to it) because my daughter loudly demands attention. :)

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Yes, someone beat you to it! :D:D

First fly: Stratiomys potamida male
Second: Stratiomys longicornis female

greatings,

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Yeah, I know, an open invitation for you. Well, I hope you enjoyed it. :p

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Thanks to both of you,

Faster than light !

Dimitri

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Oops,
I got the title wrong (y>i and i>y and a missing t and a displaced r), shame on me

Can it be corrected ?

Thanks