---

I have an intriguing specimen of a male Cheilosia species. Taken on 4 June at the edge of arable land in a broad grassy margin. Shropshire UK. I cannot determine it from any of the descriptions in either Stubbs or Van Veen. My best estimate is that it may be a male C carbonaria or possibly C cynocephala, but it is not quite right for either species.
Description: Completely black legs, save for a minute patch of dark brown at the base of the mid tibia. Tarsi all black. Wings darkened with very black veins in basal part of wing. Eyes hairy - pale brown hairs and quite dense. Abdominal tergites 3 and 4 with black and inclined hairs on axis, also black hairs on lateral fringes of these tergites. Antenna dark. Thorax slightly shining with upstanding black hairs all over. Sternites all glossy black.
It looks like nothing else in my reference collection, although I don't have any male cynocephala or carbonaria to compare with. Any ideas?

---

Maby you could try to make some good pics from above so we can see the wings and shape of abdomen, with a white background?

---

Dorsal view

---

lateral view

---

and head on.
What do you reckon?

---

Though very difficult by pictures, this should to my opinion be C. cynocephala. That is based on the very dark appearence, the rather stout nose that is placed a bit higher than so in carbonaria. And also on the description of the spot where you found it. That the hairs on the eyes are 'pale brown' does not really fit, could this be the effect of using artificial light?
So, íf you could find someone in England to confirm this ID, that would be best. For neither carbonaria nor vernalis can be abolutely excluded here. Even when I would make a little bet on my ID (a pint of...? ;) )