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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-fareast-language:EN-US">Can anyone help Aram ?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-fareast-language:EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-fareast-language:EN-US">F<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-fareast-language:EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Dr Francis Gilbert<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Emeritus Professor, School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG72RD, UK<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">website:
<a href="https://www-web.nottingham.ac.uk/~plzfg/">https://www-web.nottingham.ac.uk/~plzfg/</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-fareast-language:EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">From:</span></b><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"> Aram Afrasiaw <aram.afrasiaw@garmian.edu.krd>
<br>
<b>Sent:</b> 16 April 2026 23:30<br>
<b>To:</b> Francis Gilbert <Francis.Gilbert@nottingham.ac.uk><br>
<b>Subject:</b> Request for assistance with identification of a Chrysotoxum specimen<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="gmail-isselectedend">Dear Prof. Dr. Gilbert,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="gmail-isselectedend">I hope this message finds you well.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="gmail-isselectedend">I am writing to kindly request your assistance in identifying a hoverfly specimen that I collected during recent fieldwork in
<span class="gmail-text-token-text-primary">[Sulaymaniyah, Iraq]</span> on <span class="gmail-text-token-text-primary">
[8/4/2026]</span>. Based on preliminary examination, I believe the specimen belongs to the genus
<em><span style="font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">Chrysotoxum</span></em> (Diptera: Syrphidae), possibly
<em><span style="font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">Chrysotoxum intermedium</span></em>. However, given the complexity of this genus and the potential for misidentification, I would greatly appreciate your expert opinion.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="gmail-isselectedend">I have attached an image of the specimen for your evaluation. If necessary, I would be happy to provide additional photographs (e.g., lateral view, close-ups of antennae) or further details about the specimen and its habitat.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="gmail-isselectedend">This identification is important for my ongoing research, as I am investigating the syrphid fauna of Iraq and assessing potential new country records.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="gmail-isselectedend">Thank you very much for your time and consideration. I would be grateful for any guidance you can provide.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p>Kind regards,<br>
Aram Jaf<o:p></o:p></p>
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