Megasyrphus erraticus

Megasyrphus erraticus is a Holarctic species of hoverfly associated with mature conifer woodlands and plantations.[2]

Megasyrphus erraticus
Megasyrphus erraticus male
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Class:
Insecta
Order:
Diptera
Family:
Syrphidae
Genus:
Megasyrphus
Species:
M. erraticus
Binomial name
Megasyrphus erraticus
Synonyms

Description

External images For terms see Morphology of Diptera
M. erraticus is a large (10–15 mm. wing length) wasp mimic with a yellow pattern. The thoracic dorsum is blackish and shiny, in contrast to the greenish dorsum of most species of Syrphus and Epistrophe. Without long, dense hairs. Scutellum yellow. Wing clear, without dark patch. Face with a black middle line. Frontal lunule black. Hind tibiae with black ring after middle.[3][4][5][6] The male genitalia and larva is figured by Dusek and Laska (1967).[7]

Distribution

Palaearctic and Nearctic. Fennoscandia South to the Pyrenees. Ireland East to Central Europe and the Alps and Apennines (becomes increasingly montane toward southern parts of its range). Then European Russia and the Russian Far East, Siberia to the Pacific coast (Sakhalin and Kunashir islands) Also in the Himalayas (Nepal). In North America from Alaska to Mexico.[8][9][10]

Habitat in France

Biology

Habitat is Abies, Picea, Pinus forest.[11] Arboreal, descending to visit flowers including yellow composites; white umbellifers, Bellis, Calluna vulgaris, Cardamine pratense, Cirsium vulgare, Crataegus, Epilobium angustifolium, Euphorbia hyberna, Geranium, Lonicera periclymenum, Prunus spinosa, Ranunculus, Rubus idaeus, Rubus fruticosus, Salix, Sorbus aucuparia, Stellaria, Veronica, Viburnum.[12] The flight period is May to July. The larvae feed on aphids.

References
  1. Chandler, Peter J. (December 2011). "Corrections and changes to the Diptera Checklist". Dipterists Digest (Print). Second Series. Dipterists Forum. 18 (2): 203–204. ISSN 0953-7260.
  2. Stubbs, Alan E. & Falk, Steven J. (1983). British Hoverflies: An Illustrated Identification Guide. British Entomological & Natural History Society. pp. 253, xv.
  3. Van Veen, M. (2004). Hoverflies of Northwest Europe: identification keys to the Syrphidae. 256pp. KNNV Publishing, Utrecht. addendum
  4. Van der Goot, V.S. (1981). De zweefvliegen van Noordwest - Europa en Europees Rusland, in het bijzonder van de Benelux. KNNV, Uitgave no.32: 275pp. Amsterdam.
  5. Bei-Bienko, G.Y. & Steyskal, G.C. (1988). Keys to the Insects of the European Part of the USSR, Volume V: Diptera and Siphonaptera, Part I. Amerind Publishing Co., New Delhi. ISBN 81-205-0080-6.
  6. Coe, R.L. (1953). Diptera: Syrphidae. Handbks. ident. Br. insects, 10(1): 1-98. R. ent. Soc. London. pdf
  7. Dusek, J. & Laska, P. (1967). Versuch zum aufbau eines Naturlichen Systems mitteleuropaischer Arten der Unterfamilie Syrphinae (Diptera). Acta sc. nat. Brno 1: 349-390.
  8. Fauna Europaea
  9. Peck, L.V. (1988). Syrphidae. In: Soos, A. & Papp, L. (eds.) Catalogue of Palaearctic Diptera 8: 11-230. Akad. Kiado, Budapest.
  10. Vockeroth, J.R. (1992). The Flower Flies of the Subfamily Syrphinae of Canada, Alaska, and Greenland (Diptera: Syrphidae). Part 18. The Insects and Arachnids of Canada (PDF). Ottawa, Ontario: Canadian Government Pub Centre. pp. 1–456. ISBN 0-660-13830-1. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-06-15. Retrieved 2017-01-17.
  11. Speight, M.C.D. (2011). "Species accounts of European Syrphidae (Diptera)" (PDF). Syrph the Net, the database of European Syrphidae. 65: 285pp.
  12. de Buck, N. (1990). Bloembezoek en bestuivingsecologie van Zweefvliegen (Diptera, Syrphidae) in het bijzonder voor België. Doc. Trav. IRSNB, no.60, 1-167.


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