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Index of Subjects <html> <body> Thanks, Chris. I believe from some research I did since yesterday that these are mimics of Potter Wasps. Does that sound reasonable? (of course Tiphiid wasps are also a possibility).<br> Angus<br><br> At 07:11 PM 10/19/2006, Chris Majka wrote:<br> <blockquote type=cite class=cite cite="">Hi Angus,<br><br> On 18-Oct-06, at 9:39 PM, Angus MacLean wrote:<br><br> <blockquote type=cite class=cite cite="">I believe I can see the haltere on this creature, so a fly, but the abdomen is so oddly shaped (like a wasp) and brightly coloured that I wonder. Unfortunately I was only able to get this one photo before it flew. Does anyone know what it is?<br><br> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=273483144&size=m"> http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=273483144&size=m</a><br><br> The abdomen suggests a Robber Fly but the wings appear too small/frail.</blockquote><br> This is another syrphid fly. It is a member of the genus <i>Sphaerophoria</i>. See for example:<br><br> <a href="http://www.veluwe-insecten.nl/zweefvliegen/sphaerophoria/sphaerophoria.html"> http://www.veluwe-insecten.nl/zweefvliegen/sphaerophoria/sphaerophoria.html</a> <br> <a href="http://popgen.unimaas.nl/~jlindsey/commanster/Insects/Flies/SpFlies/Sphaerophoria.interrupta.jpg" eudora="autourl"> http://popgen.unimaas.nl/~jlindsey/commanster/Insects/Flies/SpFlies/Sphaerophoria.interrupta.jpg</a> <br><br> We have a large assortment of these species in our collection. Unfortunately, almost all of them are labeled (by Vockeroth who determined the series in 1971) as <i>Sphaerophoria</i> species (i.e. unidentified) or <i>Sphaerophoria</i> sp. nov. (i.e. an undescribed species) although there are a couple of specimens of <i>Sphaerophoria philanthus</i> Mg. So, at this stage, <i>Sphaerophoria</i> sp. is as far as I can go with the determination.<br><br> All the best!<br><br> Chris<br><br> <font face="Times, Times"> _._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._.<br> </font><br> <font face="Times, Times">Christopher Majka - Nova Scotia Museum of Natural History<br> </font><br> <font face="Times, Times">1747 Summer Street, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada B3H 3A6<br> </font><br> <font face="Times, Times">(902) 424-6435 Email <c.majka@ns.sympatico.ca ><br> </font><br> <font face="Times, Times"> _._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._.<br> </font></blockquote></body> </html>
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