Orthonevra flukei

Last updated

Orthonevra flukei
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Diptera
Family: Syrphidae
Subfamily: Eristalinae
Tribe: Brachyopini
Genus: Orthonevra
Species:
O. flukei
Binomial name
Orthonevra flukei
(Sedman, 1964)
Synonyms [1]
  • Chrysogaster flukei Sedman, 1964

Orthonevra flukei (Sedman, 1966), Fluke's Mucksucker, is an uncommon species of syrphid fly It has been observed in the Western United States. Hoverflies get their names from the ability to remain nearly motionless while in flight. The adults are also known as flower flies for they are commonly found around and on flowers from which they get both energy-giving nectar and protein-rich pollen. Larvae for this genus are of the rat-tailed type. O. flukei larvae have been described. [2] [1] [3] [4] [5]

Description

For terminology see Speight key to genera and glossary

Size
Male,4.5 mm (0.18 in), female 5.5 mm (0.22 in)
Head

The front of the head is a metallic purplish color. There is white hair present on the upper corners of the front, along with abundant white scales The upper part of the front is narrowed with a depression in the middle and distinctive grooves on the sides. The face is black with some purple and bluish reflections. There is no normal hair on the face, but scales are evenly distributed on the sides, except for a concentrated line along the eye margin. There is a broad area, without scales in the middle of the face, from the antennae to the epistoma. The cheeks are shiny black with white scales in the front and white hair in the back. The antennae are brownish, with the first segment often yellowish. The third segment is slightly longer than the second. The eyes are cream to tan with brown lines. There is a straight thin horizontal line and sinuous vertical lines ranging from two parallel brown lines to lines that merge together, creating one or more circular markings. Eyes of the male holoptic.

Thorax

The scutum, has a greenish or slightly bluish color. It is marked by four wide purplish stripes running lengthwise, as well as two narrower purplish streaks between the posterior calli and the thoracic suture. The scutum is covered in short, white hair. The scutellum, has a bluish color along the edges and a shiny purple color elsewhere.

Wings

The wings have a clouded area near the tip, where the crossvein M1 is connected to a cloud on the second longitudinal vein R2+3. There are brown spots of varying intensity in the cells of the wing. The stigma, is a pale yellow color but appears darker in females. The M1 vein joins the R4+5 vein at a right angle, while the M2 vein divides the M1 vein into two equal parts. The CuA1 vein extends as a spur on the posterior corner of the discal cell. The crossvein r-m is located at the basal one-third of the discal cell. The brown wing markings on the veins forms a broad band at right angles to costa

Legs

The legs are shining black with yellow on the basal two tarsal segments and the basal quarter of the hind tibiae.

Abdomen

The sides of the abdomen have a shiny blue color on the first segment, while the remaining segments have a purplish color or may have a bluish color towards the base, with purple limited to certain parts of the outer edges. The dorsum of the abdomen appears somewhat translucent with a blue color, and segments two, three, and four may have a more or less translucent purple or bronze color towards the tip. [5]

Related Research Articles

<i>Cepora nadina</i> Species of butterfly

Cepora nadina, the lesser gull, is a small to medium-sized butterfly of the family Pieridae, that is, the yellows and whites. The species was first described by Hippolyte Lucas in 1852. It is native to Sri Lanka, India, Myanmar, Hainan, and southeast Asia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Glossary of entomology terms</span> List of definitions of terms and concepts commonly used in the study of entomology

This glossary of entomology describes terms used in the formal study of insect species by entomologists.

<i>Tarucus theophrastus</i> Species of butterfly

Tarucus theophrastus, the common tiger blue, pointed Pierrot or African Pierrot, is a small butterfly found in the Old World tropics. It belongs to the lycaenids or blues family.

<i>Nacaduba pactolus</i> Species of butterfly

Nacaduba pactolus, the large four-line blue, is a species of lycaenid butterfly found in Indomalayan realm.

<i>Nacaduba kurava</i> Species of butterfly

Nacaduba kurava, the transparent six-line blue, is a Lycaenidae butterfly found in Asia and Australia. The species was first described by Frederic Moore in 1857.

<i>Gangara lebadea</i> Species of butterfly

Gangara lebadea, commonly known as the banded redeye, is a species of hesperid butterfly found in Southeast Asia.

<i>Orthonevra</i> Genus of flies


Orthonevra is a genus of fly in the syrphidae family with at least 59 species identified so far. They are worldwide in distribution but concentrated in the Eastern North America and Europe.Orthonevra are commonly called Mucksuckers after the larvae which have been found in organic rich mud, i.e. muck. This genus belongs to the tribe Brachyopini that includes the prominent genera Melanogaster, Brachyopa, Neoascia and Sphegina. Orthonevra have black heads with blue to purple reflections. Many species have distinctive eye stripes. The antennae are somewhat elongate. The frons is wrinkled with silvery spots at sides of antennae. The thorax with small punctures dorsally and in several species the body is covered with scale-like pile. Wingd vein M1 curves away from the wing tip.(see images)

Dipteran morphology differs in some significant ways from the broader morphology of insects. The Diptera is a very large and diverse order of mostly small to medium-sized insects. They have prominent compound eyes on a mobile head, and one pair of functional, membraneous wings, which are attached to a complex mesothorax. The second pair of wings, on the metathorax, are reduced to halteres. The order's fundamental peculiarity is its remarkable specialization in terms of wing shape and the morpho-anatomical adaptation of the thorax – features which lend particular agility to its flying forms. The filiform, stylate or aristate antennae correlate with the Nematocera, Brachycera and Cyclorrhapha taxa respectively. It displays substantial morphological uniformity in lower taxa, especially at the level of genus or species. The configuration of integumental bristles is of fundamental importance in their taxonomy, as is wing venation. It displays a complete metamorphosis, or holometabolous development. The larvae are legless, and have head capsules with mandibulate mouthparts in the Nematocera. The larvae of "higher flies" (Brachycera) are however headless and wormlike, and display only three instars. Pupae are obtect in the Nematocera, or coarcate in Brachycera.

<i>Brachyopa flavescens</i> Species of fly

Brachyopa flavescens, The Yellow Sapeater, is a fairly common species of syrphid fly. It has been observed in northeastern North America. Hoverflies get their names from the ability to remain nearly motionless while in flight. The adults are also known as flower flies for they are commonly found around and on flowers, from which they get both energy-giving nectar and protein-rich pollen. Larvae for this genus are of the rat-tailed type. B.flavescens larvae have not been described.

<i>Chrysogaster antitheus</i> Species of fly

Chrysogaster antitheus , the Short-haired Wrinkle Fly, is a fairly common species of syrphid fly found in North America. Hoverflies get their names from the ability to remain nearly motionless while in flight. The adults are also known as flower flies for they are commonly found around and on flowers, from which they get both energy-giving nectar and protein-rich pollen. The larvae in this genus are aquatic rat-tailed larvae.

<i>Orthonevra pictipennis</i> Species of fly

Orthonevra pictipennis (Loew,1863), the Dusky-veined Mucksucker, is an uncommon species of syrphid fly. It has been observed in North America. O. pictipennis shares much of the same range as O. pulchella, O. nitida and O. feei. Hoverflies get their names from the ability to remain nearly motionless while in flight. The adults are also known as flower flies, for they are commonly found around and on flowers from which they get both energy-giving nectar and protein-rich pollen. Larvae for this genus are of the rat-tailed type. O. pictipennis larvae have not been described.

<i>Orthonevra nitida</i> Species of fly

Orthonevra nitida , the wavy mucksucker, is a fairly common species of syrphid fly. It has been observed in Eastern and Central North America. Hoverflies get their names from the ability to remain nearly motionless while in flight. The adults are also known as flower flies for they are commonly found around and on flowers from which they get both energy-giving nectar and protein rich pollen. Larvae for this genus are of the rat-tailed type. O. nitida larvae have not been described.

Microdon tristis is a species of syrphid fly in the family Syrphidae.

<i>Dasysyrphus intrudens</i> Species of fly

'Dasysyrphus intrudens' is a placeholder name for a complex of species that have yet to be properly been divided into individual species. It is found in the Holarctic realm. Though this species actually a complex, it is commonly found in many areas of its range, but yet the larvae of this species were not known to science as of 2012. This may be due to the probable nocturnal habit of these larvae if it is similar to some known larvae of this genus.

<i>Brachyopa daeckei</i> Species of fly

Brachyopa daeckei, the black-tailed sapeater, is a rare species of syrphid fly that has been observed in northeastern North America. Hoverflies get their names from the ability to remain nearly motionless while in flight. The adults are also known as flower flies for they are commonly found around and on flowers, from which they get both energy-giving nectar and protein-rich pollen. Larvae for this genus are of the rat-tailed type. B.daeckei larvae have not been described.

Blera analis, the Orange-tailed wood fly, is an uncommon species of syrphid fly. It was officially described by Macquart, 1842. Hoverflies get their names from their ability to remain nearly motionless while in flight. The adults are also known as flower flies for they are commonly found around and on flowers from which they get both energy-giving nectar and protein-rich pollen. The larvae are of the rat-tailed type feeding on exuding sap or in the rot holes of trees.

<i>Brachyopa caesariata</i> Species of fly

Brachyopa caesariata, the Plain-winged Sapeater, is an uncommon species of syrphid fly. It has been observed in Canada, Alaska and northern United States. Hoverflies get their names from the ability to remain nearly motionless while in flight. The adults are also known as flower flies for they are commonly found around and on flowers, from which they get both energy-giving nectar and protein-rich pollen. Larvae for this genus are of the rat-tailed type. B.caesariata larvae have not been described.

<i>Brachyopa diversa</i> Species of fly

Brachyopa diversa , the Pale-striped Sapeater, is a rare species of syrphid fly. It has been observed in the northeastern part of North America. Hoverflies get their names from the ability to remain nearly motionless while in flight. The adults are also known as flower flies for they are commonly found around and on flowers, from which they get both energy-giving nectar and protein-rich pollen. Larvae for this genus are of the rat-tailed type. B.diversa larvae have not been described.

<i>Eristalis brousii</i> Species of fly

Eristalis brousii, also called the hourglass drone fly or flower fly, is a species of syrphid fly largely eliminated in most of its former range except in northern Canada. It was first officially described by Williston in 1882. The cognomen "flower fly" derives from the fact that the flies are commonly found on and surrounding flowers from which they source energy-restoring nectar and protein-rich pollen. The larvae are aquatic filter-feeders of the rat-tailed sort.

<i>Sphiximorpha willistoni</i> Species of insect

Sphiximorpha willistoni, or Williston's wasp fly, is a rare species of syrphid fly found in eastern North America. It is a strong wasp mimic. Hoverflies can remain nearly motionless in flight. The adults are also known as flower flies for they are commonly found on flowers, from which they get both energy-giving nectar and protein-rich pollen. Larvae in this genus are found in sap runs of trees.

References

  1. 1 2 "Orthonevra flukei Report". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 2019-09-23.
  2. Webb, D.W. (1985). "The inrimature stages of Orthonevra flukei (Diptera: Syrphidae)". Southwestern Natur. 30: 312–315.
  3. "Orthonevra flukei". GBIF. Retrieved 2019-09-23.
  4. 1 2 Sedman, Yale S (1964). "The Chrysogaster (Orthonevra) Bellula Group In North America". Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington. 66: 169–201.