| Calcaretropidia | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Diptera |
| Family: | Syrphidae |
| Subtribe: | Tropidiina |
| Genus: | Calcaretropidia Keiser, 1971 |
| Type species | |
| Calcaretropidia madagascariensis | |
| Species | |
Calcaretropidia is a genus of hoverfly (family Syrphidae) in the subtribe Tropidiina. [1]
Calcaretropidia is one of eleven genera in the subtribe Tropidiina, the other ten being: Tropidia , Orthoprosopa , Paratropidia , Macrozelima , Meropidia , Nepenthosyrphus , Rhinotropidia , Senogaster , Syritta , and Brachypalpoides . [2]
 | This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (October 2025) |
Key characteristics of the genus Calcaretropidia include a swollen hind femur, a carinate face, and large ommatidia. [3]
Until 2017, Calcaretropidia was thought to be endemic to the island of Madagascar. The discovery of Calcaretropidia delmohardy on the islands of Sulawesi and New Guinea disproved this, [3] [4] confirming Calcaretropidia's presence on both sides of the Lydekker line and challenging earlier assumptions of endemism to Madagascar. [3]
Unlike many temperate species in the subtribe Tropidiina that exhibit summer seasonality, [2] Calcaretropidia species occur in tropical regions such as Madagascar, New Guinea, and Sulawesi, where activity is likely governed by local climatic conditions (such as humidity) rather than temperature seasonality. Currently, no general flight season has been established. [3]
| | This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (October 2025) |
While little is known about Calcaretropidia's specific feeding behaviour, they are thought to pollinate flowers as adults. [3]