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Hi!

Two days ago I found this Brachyopa male at a fence near forest, under a birdcherry tree (northwest Germany). Gisela Merkel says it could be B. testacea or vittata. Is it possible to distinguish between the two species?

Here two larger pictures:
http://www.foto-u..._big_1.jpg
http://www.foto-u..._big_2.jpg

Some minutes later I saw also a female, but only 3 m high on a cherry blossom:
http://insektenfo...post143857

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Pic #2

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Pic #3

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I find it hard to distinguish both species from photographs, but the snout seems a bit short for B. vittata. On the first photograph it looks to stop short of the antennae. So I favor B. testacea. Other differences can not be clearly judged. So from my part it is still uncertain.

Best wishes,
Han Endt.

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Hi,
The thorax is too stronlgy dusted for B. testacea or B. vittata. I think this is either B. dorsata or B. panzeri.
Cheers,
Menno

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Hello, Han and Menno!

Sorry for the late reply. Many thanks for your opinions!