Platycheirus (Platycheirus) scutatus (Meigen)  

Species very similar to other European species of the scutatus group, P.aurolateralis, P.speighti and P.splendidus. The female of this species cannot at present be separated from the other species of this group.

Speight et al. (2004) provided a key to separate the European species. P. scutatus has tarsomeres 2 and 3 of the proleg each more than 3 times as wide as long; mesocoxa with an apical, finger-like process anteriorly; ventral surface of mesotibia (excluding lateral margins) almost bare, any scattered white pili much shorter than the maximum width of a tibia; probasitarsus 1.5 times as long as its maximum width; tarsomere 4 of proleg slightly less than 2 times as wide as long; face entirely or predominantly pale pilose; frontal triangle not inflated; wing with 2nd basal cell varying in microtrichial coverage from 90% -50% (frontal triangle covered in pollinosity that varies in colour from silver-grey to mid-grey; pale marks on terga whitish and well-defined).

A further potential complication is P. atlasi Kassebeer, described from North Africa (Kassebeer, 1998), which might occur in Mediterranean parts of Europe.