Inconclusive sighting

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Identification history

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	Insufficient or inconclusive evidence	3 Jan 2025	MichaelMulvaney
	Syrphidae (family)	18 Feb 2024	Petesteamer

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Hovers for 30-40 seconds 1.5 metres above the ground, not associated with any particular plant. In lowland forest habitat.

3 comments

MichaelMulvaney wrote:

3 Jan 2025

I suspect it is erinstalis - but not enough detail to make a conformation - sorry

Petesteamer wrote:

3 Jan 2025

Thanks for that Michael, having read up on the family name there is evidence for it being correct. The local forest area is also a swampy area, hence why it was not cleared. Rat tailed maggots are in the mostly stagnant water. This is a dry year but as soon as the local conditions change I will get better evidence using your lead information. Thanks, PeteJ

RogerF wrote:

3 Jan 2025

There are several other groups of Diptera with hovering males that are defending spatial territory, notably Nemestrinids, Stomorhinas, Tachinids, Tabanids, among others. All very difficult to photograph with auto focus because of small size. A dorsal shot would reveal all

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Sighting information

2 Abundance
Petesteamer Recorded by
Collections
Petesteamer Inconclusive

Additional information

Less than 5mm Animal size
Unknown Gender
Breeding behaviour
Alive / healthy Animal health

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More than one media file
Verified by an expert moderator
Nearby sighting(s) of same species
GPS evidence of location
Description
Additional attributes

Australian Capital Territory

New South Wales

Queensland

Northern Territory

Western Australia

South Australia

Victoria

Tasmania

Inconclusive sighting

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3 comments

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