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I found this spectacular fly in Turkey, near Uzuncaburc, 28 May this year. ca 1000 m altitude, in dry spring bed where a broken water hose had created a small puddle. Pine forest nearby, otherwise sloping mountain sides with open shrub/herbaceous vegetation.

Any clue to its ID is welcome!

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another photo

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Well I hope somebody can tell you because I suspect this is the same thing. Photographed in Northern Greece 17-June-2008 at about 800 metres visiting the flower border along a dirt track.

I will send a copy of the photo to Guido who does my Stratiomyidae for me so if nobody else helps, maybe he can.

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I think it's Odontomyia flavissima.

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Thanks Stephane!

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That is waht Guido said as well

"This is certainly a Odontomyia, but like always determination on a photo is very difficult. However I’m 99% sure this is flavissima, looking at the black hairs on thorax and the dark wing basis."

However I now notice that the distribution of the black on the thorax is different in Cor's specimen from mine.

Gordon

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I think the difference in thorax color is due to light fall etc. However, the shape of the abdomen and the orange is a bit different. But then, the related Odotomyia ornata is quite variable, so may be these differences mean nothing. Howver, to be at the safe side, you (Gordon) might as Guido's opinion on my photo's too, if you would me that favor!

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Cor's appears to be female and Gordon's seems male, so that might be another reason for the different coverage of black on the abdomen.

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Dear Cor -

Guido has looked at the thread and he says YES they are both O. flavissima, it is quite variable, although seldom, if ever flavissimate.

Gordon