Syntormon denticulatum

Description

3.5-4.5mm. This small wetland fly has a brassy body and typical dolichopid long legs. The Syntormon genus can be recognised by the thumb-like projection on the 2nd antennal segment (see image below). S. denticulatum has all dark antennae with the 3rd segment broadly triangular and with the arista attached at the tip. The front femora are dark, though maybe yellow just at the apices. The coxa are pale and the front coxa has a covering of all-white hairs. See the ID checklist below for a detailed list of features.

Identification difficulty
ID checklist (your specimen should have all of these features)
  • 3.5-4.5mm
  • 2nd antennal segment with ‘thumb’ (see image below)
  • Antennae all dark
  • 3rd antennal segment triangular with arista attached at the tip
  • 1 row of acrostichals
  • Face bare
  • Coxa pale. Front coxa with all white hairs
  • Vein m-cu of similar length to vein m (from the m-cu junction to wing margin)
  • Frons brown/brassy
Habitat

Ponds and wetland edges.

When to see it

January - November

UK Status

Common and widespread in England and Wales.

VC55 Status

Reasonably common.

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2025+ | 2020-2024 | pre-2020

UK Map

Species profile

Species group:
Flies
Kingdom:
Order:
Family:
Records on NatureSpot:
2
First record:
27/02/2025 (Nicholls, David)
Last record:
03/03/2025 (Nicholls, David)

Total records by month

% of records within its species group

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