Eristalis dimidiata

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Eristalis dimidiata
Eristalis dimidiata P1340163a.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Diptera
Family: Syrphidae
Genus: Eristalis
Species:
E. dimidiata
Binomial name
Eristalis dimidiata
(Wiedemann, 1830)
Synonyms [1]
  • Eristalis chalybaeus Macquart, 1842
  • Eristalis chalybeus Macquart, 1842
  • Eristalis dimidiatus Wiedemann, 1830
  • Eristalis haesitans Walker, 1849
  • Eristalis incisuralis Macquart, 1850
  • Eristalis inflexus Walker, 1849
  • Eristalis lherminierii Macquart, 1842
  • Eristalis niger Macquart, 1834

Eristalis dimidiata, the black-shouldered drone fly, is a species of hoverfly native to much of Canada and the eastern and northern United States. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] It flies year-round in southern areas and from late March to mid-November further north. [5] It is one of the earliest hoverflies to fly in the spring, and as such likely overwinters as an adult. [5] It lives primarily in forests. [5]

Contents

Hoverflies get their names from the ability to remain nearly motionless while in flight. The adults are also known as flower flies as they are commonly found on and around flowers, from which they get both energy-giving nectar and protein-rich pollen. The larvae are aquatic filter-feeders of the rat-tailed type. [4] [6]

Description

Black-shouldered drone flies have opaque, infuscated humeral cells (at the base of their wings), with the rest of the wing entirely hyaline (transparent), except for possibly a diffuse medial spot on the wing. [5] [6] Their hind tarsi are entirely black. [6] Overall, much of the fly is black, though the wings are mostly transparent and the posterior margins of the abdominal segments are white. Their pterostigma are dark brown and distinct. [4] [5] They have one to six short bristles on the dorsus (back) of their arista. [5]

Female, showing the darkened, opaque, infuscated humeral cells on the leading edges of the wings, close to the base. Eristalis dimidiata female closeup on purple flower.png
Female, showing the darkened, opaque, infuscated humeral cells on the leading edges of the wings, close to the base.
Female Eristalis dimidiata female.jpg
Female

References

  1. 1 2 "Eristalis dimidiata Report". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 2018-04-30.
  2. ↑ "Eristalis dimidiata species details". Catalogue of Life. Retrieved 2018-04-30.
  3. ↑ "Eristalis dimidiata". GBIF. Retrieved 2018-04-30.
  4. 1 2 3 "Eristalis dimidiata Species Information". BugGuide.net. Retrieved 2018-04-30.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Skevington, Jeffrey H.; Locke, Michelle M.; Young, Andrew D.; Moran, Kevin; Crins, William J.; Marshall, Stephen A. (2019). Field Guide to the Flower Flies of Northeastern North America. Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton University Press. ISBN   9780691189406.
  6. 1 2 3 Williston, S.W. (1887). "Synopsis of the North American Syrphidae". Bulletin of the United States National Museum. 31: 1–335.

Further reading


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