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I would be very grateful for help identifying this fly.

Seen in montane forest, Nimba Mountains, Guinea.

I've also included a photo of the wasp I presume it's mimicking. There were both seen feeding at the same bush. Both fly and wasp are approximately an inch in length.

I think the wasp might be an African paper wasp, Belonogaster juncea, or a related species.

Many thanks
Chris


wasp mimic by chris24woolley, on Flickr

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This is confusing because it seems to combine a ptilinal suture with complex wing venation. The first is unique to the Cyclorrhapha, but Cyclorrhapha have simplified wing veins relative to lower Brachycera. In North America we have similar wasp mimics in Syrphidae:Ceriodini and Conopidae:Conopinae. The long beak is consistent with Conopidae.

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Looks like Systropus (Bombyliidae).

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I agree, a very nice Systropus sp. There are many African species. They are convincing wasp mimics, even when on a pin :)

Steve

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Thanks for the response. I would have never have guessed a Bombyliid given what I thought they 'typically' look like.

Chris

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Chris,
If you have extra photos with clear details of the wing and head, it should be possible to identify the species. The overall colouration is very distinctive which will narrow it down to a few possibilities.
Steve

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Thanks Steve, I'm afraid these are the best I can do. The wing venation might be a bit easier to see at their original size, but unfortunately they're not very sharp.
Chris


IMG_0413 by chris24woolley, on Flickr


IMG_0179 by chris24woolley, on Flickr


IMG_0166 by chris24woolley, on Flickr


IMG_0165 by chris24woolley, on Flickr

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Hi Chris, the extra photos certainly help. The wing shading of yellow leading edge with contrasting dark tip (I think I also see 3 submarginal cells) combined with the overall size and colouration (which makes it a Belonogaster mimic rather than an Ammophila one ) suggests it is
Systropus marshalli, a species distributed across the equatorial zone.

Steve

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Hi Steve, many thanks for this. it's very satisfying to put a name to such a distinctive insect.

Chris

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Hi Chris,

I see that the top photo has been published in the Manual of Afrotropical Diptera Volume 2 (page 1020) with the identification Systropus marshalli |t

regards,
Steve