Austalis

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Austalis
Austalis pulchella 249900269 (cropped).jpg
Austalis pulchella
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Diptera
Family: Syrphidae
Subfamily: Eristalinae
Tribe: Eristalini
Subtribe: Eristalina
Genus: Austalis
Thompson & Vockeroth, 2003
Type species
Eristalis resolutus
Walker, 1858

Austalis is a genus of hoverflies, from the family Syrphidae, in the order Diptera.

Formerly members of this genus were considered part of Eristalis though as rather a distinct group. They are very similar to Eristalinus , but Austalis is defined by having a postalar pile tuft but lacking the pile on posterior portions of the anepimeron and lacking the patterning on the eyes typical of Eristalinus. They also share a distinct metallic colouring. Little is known of their life histories but the adults have been recorded feeding at Eucalyptus flowers. [1]

Systematics

List created by Thompson (2003) in defining the new genus. [1]

A further dozen species are known from the Oriental and Australasian regions but await formal description.

References

  1. 1 2 Thompson, F. Christian (2003). "Austalis, a new genus of flower flies (Diptera: Syrphidae) with revisionary notes on related genera" (pdf Adobe/Acobat). Zootaxa. 246. New Zealand: Magnolia Press: 1–19. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.246.1.1. ISSN   1175-5334 . Retrieved 2011-01-28.