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I think I should add something here Nigel.

In a period from May 19 to September 25, 2007, 131 specimens of Platypezidae collected in Naro-Fominsk district of Moscow region (Russia) were mounted (some were discarded because of poor condition). They belong to at least 15 spp. of 7 genera (some IDs are yet to be confirmed), all photographed and images are or will be submitted for the Gallery soon. Both sexes of most species were eventually found. Of these, only collecting Microsania attracted to smoke was a real piece o'cake, once you've learned where to find them. It was different for many of the rest of them, excluding maybe Callomiya at the peak of their flight time (late May to late June), and generally implied hours of excessive sweeping under forest's canopy, plus some devotion for sure. All these toils very often yielded just a couple of flies. Curiously enough, none of these specimens (except Microsania) were observed and/or collected on leaves or fungi, I saw them only in my net and, quite rarely, in flight. Now I understand that it was probably due to the fact that I totally ignored morning hours and waited for the dew to disappear; normally, I headed for the hunt well after the noon. A tip, though: stick to a place where some flies were initially found, the chances that you'll find more here one day are good. During a trip to Sochi (Krasnodar Territory) in late October, many dozens of at least 9 spp. were collected exactly when and where they should be (see Tony's post). I believe that, in the course of long-term observations in appropriate habitats, the list of visited species would include most of woody plants in the region. These were not necessarily broad-leaved ones (but some certainly were, like young Paulownia tomentosa in a park), sometimes even on the contrary (like Ceanothus cultivar (Rhamnaceae) in the same park). The most interesting find, in terms of habitats, was made on the very first day (October 20), when a single female of Lindneromyia hungarica was swept right in the middle of Imeretinskaya Bay (pasture mixed with disturbed ground near dwellings at seashore), without any forest closer than a mile or so, just some trees (and bamboos) several hundred meters away. On several occasions, I also saw Platypezidae coming to wet soil in a small path among Rubus idaeus bushes.