Merodon | |
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Merodon equestris the Narcissus bulb fly | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Diptera |
Section: | Aschiza |
Superfamily: | Syrphoidea |
Family: | Syrphidae |
Subfamily: | Eristalinae |
Genus: | Merodon Meigen, 1803 |
Synonyms [1] | |
Merodon is a large genus of bee-like hoverflies. The majority of the species are centered on the Mediterranean and it is the second largest hoverfly genus in Europe with more than 50 European species. It is distributed over the Palaearctic and Afrotropical realms, with most European species occurring in Southern and Eastern Europe. The centre of distribution of this genus appears to be Turkey, where about 65 species have been recorded. Some species occur in Africa (Morocco through East Africa and Ghana to South Africa) and the middle East, as far as Pakistan. Given the rate at which new species have been recorded over the past decades, the worldwide number of species could exceed 200. The larvae feed on the bulbs or rhizomes of monocotyledons.
One of the more common species in the genus, Merodon equestris is known as the Narcissus bulb fly, greater bulb-fly, large bulb fly or large Narcissus fly.
Species include:
Anthrax is a genus of bombyliid flies, commonly known as "bee-flies" due to their resemblance to bees. Most are dull black flies, and are usually small to medium in size, 4–20 millimetres (0.2–0.8 in), and many species have striking wing patterns.
Paragus is a genus of hoverflies.
Xylota is a Holarctic genus of hoverflies similar in structure to the related genera Chalcosyrphus and Brachypalpoides. As the larvae are saprophytic they're usually found in rotting wood. The adult flies are generally associated with woodland and woodland edges and can often be seen running over the upper sides of leaves. Unlike other syrphids the adults of many species rarely visit flowers preferring instead to gather pollen from leaf surfaces. There are over 100 described species of which 12 can be found in Europe. Seven species have been recorded in Britain. Identification of species has been difficult and identifiction by photographs is risky.
Spilomyia is a genus of hoverflies. Many species in the genus show Batesian mimicry of wasp models, including black and yellow patterns and modified antenna shape.
Cheilosia is a genus of hoverfly. Most Cheilosia are black or largely un-coloured, lacking the bright colours and patterns of many hoverfly species. It is one of the most species diverse genera of hoverflies. The biology of many species is little understood, but where known, the larvae of Cheilosia species feed in the stems of plants or in fungi.
Eumerus is a genus of hoverflies, within the tribe Eumerini.
Merodon equestris is a Holarctic species of hoverfly. Like many other hoverflies it displays a colouration pattern similar to a stinging insect as an evolutionary defense mechanism. Other syrphid bee mimics are Mallota, Arctophila, Criorhina, Pocota and Brachypalpus. Merodon species are distinguished from these by the very strong hind femora, which bear a large triangular projection on the underside near the tip. It flies in low vegetation while the other bumblebee mimics prefer higher vegetation layers.
Platycheirus is a large genus of hoverflies. They are also called sedgesitters.
Myopa is a genus of flies from the family Conopidae.
Brachyopa is a Holarctic genus of hoverflies whose grey and brown colouration is unusual for this family and these flies can easily be overlooked amongst members of other fly families. The larvae can be found under the bark of dead branches and trees in decaying sap.
Heringia is a genus of hoverflies, from the family Syrphidae, in the order Diptera.
Pipizella is a genus Hoverflies, from the family Syrphidae, in the order Diptera.
Lispocephala is a very large genus of true flies of the family Muscidae.
Empis is a genus of dance fly, in the fly family Empididae. It contains the following subgenera and species:
Hilara is a genus of dance flies, in the fly family Empididae.
Rhamphomyia is a genus of dance flies, in the fly family Empididae.
Minettia is a genus of small flies of the family Lauxaniidae. They have almost worldwide distribution, is one of the most species rich genera of the family with more than 120 described species. The Palaearctic is the most diverse with some 56 described species. The genus is divided into 3 subgenera.
Total of 245 species either found or highly expected to be found in New York.