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Hello,

I tried to key this as a male, but I'm not sure it is a male although it has a narrow abdomen. A few features I can see led me to Sciapus zonatulus, one feature is the uneven tip to the wing.

Only one pic which I have tried to show closer crops. I got a second shot with it flying backwards as it took off which doesn't show any more.

2nd June on my south facing wall, near Lincoln UK. Size I think ~7mm

Janet

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crop 1

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crop 2

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It's a male you photographed, so that's one doubt less.

The identification of this species is another matter as there are a small number of species resembling each other quite well. The key I would recommend to use is that in: Meuffels, H.J.G. & Grootaert, P. (1990) The identity of Sciapus contristans (Wiedemann, 1817) (Diptera: Dolichopodidae), and a revision of the species group of its relatives. Bulletin de l'Institut royal des Sciences naturelles de Belgique, Entomologie 60: 161-178.

Cheers,
Marc

Dr Marc Pollet
mpollet.doli@gmail.com

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Thank you Marc, I have found the paper you refer to and downloaded the details, it has to be obtained from ULG (Belgium). An email address is given, I imagine there is a charge to obtain this?

http://agris.fao....podidae%22

I have photos of another which I thought was the same from two days ago, but the wing doesn't have the bump and the eyes look to be closer together. I have more angles of that one and will post it later.