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Hi,
Today I saw my first Thecophora, i. e., a gallery check brought me to that genus of my tiny unknown Conopid. It is a male, and I read in some old threads that only female genitalia give unambiguous results. The key by van Veen, led me, however, towards T. distincta, though the thoracal dusting is a bit unclear. Is there anyone who is familiar with that species? Unfortunately, Jens-Hermann hasn't been seen since January...
Thanks, Sundew

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Some more pics.

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Thecophora's are so difficult. I can for them for hours and still not sure which species. I do not have the key here at hand. But, I think, even if I had, I would just look, look and look and still not 100% sure.
So I have to be very careful, but I think it is not distincta. T. distincta has two very clear dark stripes on the thorax. I'd say it is T. atra. Yet, again, I find these flies so difficult. I have many in my collection....headaches.

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Dear Ruud, that sounds bad... Poor little fly, so nice and no name! Van Veen's key http://home.hccne...phora.html gives the alternatives:
1. Thoracic dorsum with two black undusted lines in a large field of grey dust (that leads, in connection with rostrum length, to T. distincta)
or
2. Thoracic dorsum with two grey lines of dust leaving a single undusted, black line in between, on the remainder of the thoracic dorsum hardly any dusting (that leads to T. atra and others).
Now I find that the whole dorsal thorax is really dusted in grey, I cannot see lines. However, heavy dusting would speak for T. distincta rather than T. atra, so I voted for the former. Of course there is uncertainty. So let it be Tecophora spec.
Thanks again!