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Here is a photo from Stéphane Brule in French Guiana. Could anyone confirm whether I have guessed the correct family ... and possibly add any more information? :)

EDIT: Jorge suggested possibly Conopidae ... I have caught very similar syrphids but the proboscis and the extreme waist are starting to convince me that it might be a conopid :)

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What a remarkable insect! I think (!) it is indeed a Conopidae. John Smit told me that he is collecting only few Conopids in South America, except Stylogasters. Possibly the situation in Peru etc is different than in French Guiana

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OK, evidence for Conopidae is building up ... good thing I can move threads :D

Yes, I have seldom seen a conopid in samples - just the occasional Stylogaster :)

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In North America the Sphex-like Conopidae are Physoconops and Physocephala (both Conopinae).

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Interesting - I find photos of both genera that look similar to this one. I will have to ask Stéphane to take a net next time, not just his camera! ;) Ironic really, considering how many malaise traps the chap runs :)

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Definitely subfamily Conopinae, based on the terminal style and the long, forward-pointing (and un-jointed) haustellum.

From the basally swollen hind-femur and apically widened hind-tibia, and also the relatively short flagellomere...I'd guess genus Physocephala. But there could be other candidate genera I'm unaware of in the region.

PS: Looks like someone (a bird?) took a bite of its wing-tips!
PPS: This is a male, from the absence of a theca under the 5th sternite.

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According to Manual of Central American Diptera the basally swollen femur indicates Physocephala. There is a key to species of Costa Rica in Zootaxa 1528: http://www.canaco...merica.pdf.