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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.
Afromicrodon is an African genus of hoverflies. The species of the genus Afromicrodon were previously and erroneously placed in the genus Ceratophya.
Aristosyrphus is a genus of Neotropical hoverflies.
Carreramyia is a genus of hoverflies, with five known species currently.
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.
Megodon is a subgenus of the hoverfly genus Microdon. It is native to Madagascar, and contains only two known species. Microdon stuckenbergi has an unusual scutellum. 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.
Omegasyrphus is a genus of hoverflies, with five known species. These are small Microdontinae flies with a distinctive abdominal shape; the second segment is widened, flattened, and flared, with its lateral margin subcircular, thickened, and rounded, and the rest of abdomen narrowed and cylindrical. Larvae are found in ant nests. They are native to southern North America. The genus was previously treated as a subgenus of Microdon.
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.
Parocyptamus is a genus of hoverflies, with two known species. The critical characteristic is the narrow, elongated abdomen.
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.
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.
Peradon is a genus of hoverfly from the Neotropical realm, containing 31 species. Many of the species were originally described in the genus Microdon.
Metadon is a genus of hoverfly containing 43 species. Most of the species were originally described in the genus Microdon.
References
- ↑ Cheng, Xin-Yue; Thompson, F. Christian (2008). "A generic conspectus of the Microdontinae (Diptera: Syrphidae) with the description of two new genera from Africa and China" (PDF Adobe Acrobat). Zootaxa . New Zealand: Magnolia Press. 1879: 21–48. doi: 10.11646/zootaxa.1879.1.3 . ISSN 1175-5334 . Retrieved 2009-09-11.
- 1 2 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.
- 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.