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The subfamily Microdontinae contains slightly more than 400 species of hoverflies and, while diverse, these species share several characteristics by which they differ from other syrphids. The Microdontinae are myrmecophiles, meaning they live in the nests of ants. Larval Microdontinae are scavengers or predators in ant nests, and, in contrast to other syrphid larvae, have no readily apparent body segmentation. Some species also do not exhibit the typical adult flower-visiting behaviour of other hoverflies, but instead remain near their larval host colonies.
Hover flies of the genus Microdon are unusual among the Diptera. Like other members of the subfamily, they are myrmecophiles, meaning they inhabit the nests of ants.
Aristosyrphus is a genus of Neotropical hoverflies.
Ceratophya is a genus of hoverflies, with five known species. They are distinct from Microdon by the presence of an appendix on vein R4+5. Many species have erroneously been placed in this genus. Some authors place Ceratophya as a subgenus of Microdon.
Cervicorniphora alcicornis is a species of Australian hoverfly, and the only species in the genus Cervicorniphora.
Chymophila is a subgenus of the hoverfly genus Microdon. It was previously considered to be exclusively Neotropical, but is now also known from the Nearctic and Oriental realms, and one species is known from Japan. Chymophila was based on a composite type species: the holotype is a body of C. fulgens with the head of a conopid glued on.
Furcantenna is a genus of hoverfly from southwestern China, Nepal and Peninsular Malaysia, containing three species. Furcantenna yangi is only known from males. Furcantenna is similar to the genus Schizoceratomyia. The two genera differ from each other in the shape of the scutellum; in Furcantenna a deep medial sulcus in its posterior margin divides the scutellum into two lobes.
Indascia is a genus of hoverflies native to India and Sri Lanka. Indascia is very similar to Paramicrodon.
Kryptopyga is a genus of hoverfly native to Java, containing two species.
Masarygus is a genus of hoverflies native to Argentina, containing two species. It was first described as representing a new family related to Conopidae or possibly the Oestridae due to its much reduced mouthparts. Larvae are found in ant nests.
Myiacerapis is a subgenus of the hoverfly genus Microdon. It contains only one species, Microdon villosus. It is native to Uganda, though an undescribed species is known from South Africa. Larvae are found in ant nests.
Paramicrodon is a genus of hoverflies, with eight known species. They differ from Microdon by their short antennae and the lack of appendices on vein R4+5.
Pseudomicrodon is a genus of hoverflies, with 14 known species. All are species with petiolate abdomens.
Rhoga is a genus of hoverflies, with five known species. All are small, delicate, pale yellowish flies, with distinct black pilose brushes on their metatibiae. These flies are probably mimics of stingless bees of the tribe Meliponini.
Rhopalosyrphus is a genus of hoverflies, with nine known species. The adults flies mimic wasps, such as Zethus. The larvae are predators of ant brood. They are native to from southern United States to northern Argentina.
Schizoceratomyia is a genus of hoverflies, with four known species. Larvae are found in ant nests. They are native to the Neotropics.
Ubristes is a genus of hoverflies, with four known species. All are characterized by their metatibiae, which are usually enlarged, but always with a brush of long pile along the dorsal edges. These flies are probably mimics of the stingless bees in the tribe Meliponini.
Syrphipogon is a subgenus of the hoverfly genus Microdon. There are two known species. They are very large microdontine flies of about 25 mm. They have a deeply sulcate scutellum and a facial mystax. They are mimics of the large bees of the genus Eulaema.
Surimyia is a genus of hoverflies, with three known species. They are small microdontine flies. Surimyia is the only hoverfly genus with the katatergum lacking microtrichia. In the subfamily Microdontinae, they are distinctive in the absence of pilosity on the postpronotum.
Domodon is a genus of hoverfly from South America and Central America containing five species.
References
- ↑ Reemer, Menno; Ståhls, Gunilla (2013). "Generic revision and species classification of the Microdontinae (Diptera, Syrphidae)". ZooKeys (288): 1–213. doi: 10.3897/zookeys.288.4095 . PMC 3690914 . PMID 23798897.
- ↑ Carvalho-Filho, Fda S (2014). "Description of new species of Surimyia Reemer and Carreramyia Doesburg (Diptera: Syrphidae) from the Brazilian Amazon". Zootaxa . 3887 (1): 79–87. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.3887.1.5. PMID 25543925.
- 1 2 Reemer, Menno (2013). "Taxonomic exploration of Neotropical Microdontinae (Diptera: Syrphidae) mimicking stingless bees". Zootaxa . 3697 (1): 1–88. doi: 10.11646/zootaxa.3697.1.1 . PMID 26079022.