---

Hello,
I found this fly in March 2019 in the Canary Islands (Fuerteventura, Costa Calma). Unfortunately, I have only a single picture.
For Fuerteventura I found only one species listed: Merodon fuerteventurensis. This should be a synonym for Merodon obscuritarsis Strobl, 1909.
(MARIA ANGELES MARCOS-GARCÍA, ANTE VUJIC and XIMO MENGUAL: Revision of Iberian species of the genus Merodon (Diptera: Syrphidae), Eur. J. Entomol. 104: 531–572)
Is it possible to confirm the species?

Thanks, Marion

---

Hello Marion,
I took pictures of a very similar looking hoverfly in May last year in the Algarve on the peak of Picota (774 m).
You might watch my pictures at iNaturalist here: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/148028123.
There are only two sightings of this Merodon species (both from the Algarve), which were confirmed:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/36471914 and
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/36472330
But you probably know this already.
Unfortunately, hoverfly experts are rare and correct ID from photos is often difficult or even impossible.
Best regards,
Volker

---

Hello Volker,
Thank you for your answer, which I only discovered by accident as the request is several years old.
The resemblance is really great. I think the species should fit.
Best regards,
Marion