---

Photographed at Passo Pura near Ampezzo (Udine, Italy) at 1425 m, on Angelica flowers. It presents a combination of characters that I cannot reconcile using the keys: fairly long 1st and 2nd aristomeres, a long costal spine, a very weakly angled bend of vein M, and extremely long bristles on the tibiae. Additionally, it seems to lack apical scutellar bristles. It closely resembles Eriothrix prolixa, but several details do not match.

Thanks in advance for any help!"

---

another

---

aristae

---

another

---

Blondeliini? The discal bristles on the scutellum are more typical of Voriini (Dexiinae), but the Dexiinae tend to have strong crossed apical scutellars.

---

Forgot to add: length is 6.5 mm.

---

Both suggestions make total sense and Blondeliini was my first impression as well.
Note, however, the elongated second aristal segment (apparent first segment) and the strong costal spine. That and the locality in mountains leads me to think this is eithre Masistylum or Pachystylum.


Theo

---

Hi John Carr,
Thank you for your suggestion! However, after consulting "I Tachinidi della fauna italiana" by Pierfilippo Cerretti, I found that unfortunately no species within the Blondeliini tribe shares the morphological characters observed in my specimen.

---

Hi Theo Zeegers,
Thank you very much for your expert suggestion! Thanks to your input, I have come to the conclusion that this is a Masistylum arcuatum. The genus description provided by Pierfilippo Cerretti matches perfectly, at least for all the parts visible in my photos.Furthermore, in Pachystylum the post-sutural dc setae are generally 4 (my specimen has 3), and the median marginal depression on syntergite 1+2 extends all the way to its posterior margin (whereas in my specimen it stops halfway).
Thank you so much for your help!

---

Yes, that was gut feeling as well, but I had no time to check.
Very nice species !!

Threo

---

Thanks a lot, Theo!
If that were the case, it would be the first and only image of this species on the Web!

---

Finally double checked, and very definitely Masistylum !


Theo

---

Thank you so much, Theo, for your patience!
By the way, this is an important chorological record, as it would be the first report of this species in Northeast Italy.