| Philhelius pedissequus | |
|---|---|
 | |
| male | |
 | |
| female | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Diptera |
| Family: | Syrphidae |
| Genus: | Philhelius |
| Species: | P. pedissequus |
| Binomial name | |
| Philhelius pedissequus (Harris, 1776) | |
| Synonyms [1] | |
List
| |
Philhelius pedissequus is a species of hoverfly. [2] Prior to 2018, it was known under the genus name Xanthogramma, a junior synonym. [3]
The Latin species name pedissequus means that follows on foot, like an attendant.
This uncommon species is present in most of Europe, in Western Siberia, in the Near East and in North Africa. [4] It prefers grassland, open fields close to deciduous forest. [5] [6]
Philhelius pedissequus can reach a length of 10–13 millimetres (0.39–0.51 in) and a wing length of 7.25–9.75 mm. [7] [5] These hoverflies have a black body, with two yellow lateral stripes on the thorax, and yellow markings on tergites two to five. The pairs of tergites 2 are wedge-shaped and considerably wide. [5] [6]
Flight period last from mid May through September, with a peak at the end of June. [6] The adults feed on different flowers, for example, Ballota nigra , Potentilla erecta and Heracleum sphondylium . [7] Little is known of its larval stages. Larvae have been found underground in nests of the black garden ant ( Lasius niger ) and yellow meadow ant ( Lasius flavus ), probably to feed on ant-attended root aphids Forda formicaria and Trama species that they collect. [6] [7] [8] [9]
Hover flies, also called flower flies or syrphid flies, make up the insect family Syrphidae. As their common name suggests, they are often seen hovering or nectaring at flowers; the adults of many species feed mainly on nectar and pollen, while the larvae (maggots) eat a wide range of foods. In some species, the larvae are saprotrophs, eating decaying plant and animal matter in the soil or in ponds and streams. In other species, the larvae are insectivores and prey on aphids, thrips, and other plant-sucking insects.
Helophilus pendulus is a European hoverfly. Its scientific name means "dangling marsh-lover". It is a very common species in Britain, where it is the commonest Helophilus species. It is found throughout Europe from the Mediterranean to Scandinavia, westward to the Faroe Islands and Iceland, and through eastward through Russia from the Kola Peninsula south to Crimea and across Siberia to the Pacific Ocean.
Xylota segnis is a common species of hoverfly.
Helophilus trivittatus is a species of Palearctic hoverfly.
Philhelius are moderate to large hoverflies, most are somewhat wasp like. Little is known of their biology. Prior to 2018, they were known under the genus name Xanthogramma, a junior synonym.
Leucozona glaucia, the Pale-saddled Leucozona is a Palearctic hoverfly. Larvae feed on ground layer aphids. Adults are usually seen visiting flowers.
Eupeodes luniger is a common species of hoverfly.
Dasysyrphus tricinctus is a European species of hoverfly in the genus Dasysyrphus, a member of the family Syrphidae. It is found across Europe, although reported in highest density from the British Isles and Scandinavia. While not uncommon it is generally only seen in modest numbers, typically in lowland woods with peak numbers in late May and early June and again in late August and early September.
Dasysyrphus venustus is a Holarctic species of hoverfly.
Epistrophe eligans is a European species of hoverfly.
Meliscaeva auricollis is a West Palearctic species of hoverfly.
Meliscaeva cinctella is a Holarctic species of hoverfly.
Microdon analis, is a species of hoverfly. It is found in the Palearctic. The distinctive almost slug-like larvae live in ants nests. The larvae are hemispherical in shape and heavily armoured. They are believed to prey on the eggs and larvae of a number of different ant species, notably Lasius niger and the Formica rufa group. These ants are usually found on heathland. However Schmid (2004) claims that Microdon analis and M. major which are cryptic species have been confused under the name analis. M.major is apparently associated with ants of the genus Formica, the other species, M.analis, with Lasius species.
Melangyna cincta is a European species of hoverfly. This species has a muddled taxonomic history. Stubbs & Falk treat it as a member of the genus Melangyna. Other sources place it in Meligramma or Fagisyrphus.
Syrphus vitripennis is a very common European and North American species of hoverfly. Its larvae feed on aphids
Epistrophe grossulariae is a Holarctic species of hoverfly.
Epistrophe nitidicollis is a European and North American species of hoverfly.
Philhelius citrofasciatus is a species of hoverfly found in grasslands from Ireland to western Siberia. The larvae live in ant Lasius colonies where they feed on the aphids tended by the ants. Prior to 2018, it was known under the genus name Xanthogramma, a junior synonym.
Sphegina (Asiosphegina) achaeta is a species of hoverfly in the family Syrphidae found in Myanmar. It's easily identified by the weak setae on abdominal tergite I. It's similar in appearance to S. adusta but easily differentiated upon closer examination. The male genitalia are similar to S. pollex and S. culex, though it can be distinguished by having an acute posterodorsal corner of the superior lobe and a broader surstylus; it differs further from S. pollex by lacking a sub-basal dorsal thumb-like lobe. The arrangement of bristles on tergite I is similar to S. japonica.
Sphegina cultrigera is a species of hoverfly in the family Syrphidae found in Kambaiti Pass, Myanmar, a montane forest with swampy areas and streams located 2000 meters above sea level.
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