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A very long-beaked empid. Sorry, don't know what to try to highlight especially. Can anyone help?
Phil Porter

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larger

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Empis (sens.lat.) but unless you're an empid specialist with an 'instant recognition' factor, a bit difficult to progress I would have thought with the lack of useful detail.
Interesting Thereva, by the way.

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Every little helps John, but I haven't got a key for Empidae at the moment
Phil

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Collin's book is a brilliant piece of work; recommended if you get the chance to acquire it (not sure how easy that may be these days).

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I think (!) it is Empis livida, but, as said above, not enough details.
I like Collin's book a lot, but it is of course a bit old. I guess it is still possible to purchase it, perhaps second hand, but if you need a good key for Empis, rather buy Chvala's key in the Fauna Entomololica Scandinavica.

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Phil, do the M1 and M2 from the discall cell reach the margin of the wing?

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Ruud,
No, they both stop short of the margin. Compared to a specimen which Paul Beuk identified as livida on the site a while ago, this has mouthparts a full 60% longer, measured with an engraved lens.
John
I'll certainly look into finding Collins book. Re. all these references; 'so many books, so little time and money'. I only have about ten specimens and most probably some duplicates among them, so I'm in for all of the outside help I can get!
Regards
Phil

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Mouth parts consist of soft and hard parts. The soft parts can be extended and can result in a proboscis that appears to be twice as long as one that is not extended. This is Empis livida.

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Extraordinary; thank you all.
Phil Porter