| Platycheirus confusus | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Diptera |
| Family: | Syrphidae |
| Genus: | Platycheirus |
| Species: | P. confusus |
| Binomial name | |
| Platycheirus confusus (Curran, 1925) | |
| Synonyms [1] | |
| |
Platycheirus confusus, the Confusing Sedgesitter, is a species of syrphid fly in the family Syrphidae. [1] [2] [3]
For terminology Speight key to genera and glossary
external link to photos
Size 6–8.2 mm (0.24–0.32 in)
The face slopes downward slightly, and the front of the oral margin does not extend as far forward as the tubercle. A broad, shiny stripe runs down the center of the face from the lower facial margin almost to the antennae. The greyish pollinosity on the sides of the stripe appears to have faint oblique ripples. The legs are mostly dark, with only the tips of the femora and the basal three-quarters of the fore and mid tibiae being orange. On the upper two-thirds of the fore tibia, there is a row of weak, posterior setae, with the longest setae being approximately three times the diameter of the tibia. The mid tibia also has a similar row of setae on its upper two-thirds. The thorax has very sparse grey pollinosity, almost appearing bare. The longest scutellar pile is as long as the arista, while other thoracic piles are no longer than half the length of the scutellar pile. The upper half of the pleura usually has dark pile, while the lower half of the pleura has white pile. The halter is brown. The wing is typically brownish and almost entirely microtrichose, with only small bare patches near cells c and bm. The abdomen is parallel-sided, with brown spots on its tergites, some of which are overlaid with prominent silver pollinosity that may even merge medially on tergites 3 and 4. The lateral pile on the abdomen is mostly pale. The surstylus has a stout and almost straight lateral lobe. [4]
Eupeodes, the Aphideater flies, is a genus of moderate hoverflies in the family Syrphidae. They are distributed worldwide. They are black with yellow markings and can be easily confused with other genera in the syrphini tribe. The adults feed on nectar and pollen the sources of energy and protein respectively. Larvae feed on wide variety of aphids.
Baccha is a genus of hoverflies in the subfamily Syrphinae. They are typically moderate sized with wasp-like bodies. Their larvae are predatory, often on aphids.
Didea, the lucent flies is a holarctic genus of black and yellow large sized flies 10–15 mm (0.39–0.59 in). belonging to the hoverfly family of Diptera. The larvae feed on aboreal aphids.
Toxomerus marginatus, also known as the calligrapher fly, is a common species of hoverfly. It is found in many parts of North America.
Platycheirus granditarsus, the Hornhand Sedgesitter, is a species of hoverfly. It is found in many parts of Britain North America and Europe. Typical habitat includes marshy meadows and ditches, where it can be found between May and October, though it is at its commonest between July and September. The most distinctive feature of this fly is the red-orange abdomen most easily seen as it takes off or alights.
Platycheirus discimanus, the Yellowfoot Sedgesitter is a small species of hoverfly. It is found across Europe and the Palearctic and in North America.
Platycheirus immarginatus, the Comb-legged Sedgesitter, is a common species of hoverfly. It is found in parts of northern Europe and northern North America.
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.
Toxomerus politus is a species of hoverfly. It is known from North, Central and South America. Although little is known about the early stages of this species, associations with corn have been noted. The adults and likely the larvae feed on the pollen of the corn plants.
Chrysotoxum flavifrons, the Blackshield Meadow Fly, is a species of North American hoverfly. They are wasp mimics.
Chrysotoxum pubescens the Yellow-throated Meadow Fly is a North American species of syrphid fly in the family Syrphidae.The adults are strong mimics of wasps. Larvae of this species has been described.
Syrphus knabi, the The Eastern flower Fly, is an uncommon species of syrphid fly observed in the eastern and United States and Canada. Syrphid flies are also known as Hover Flies or Flower Flies because the adults are frequently found hovering around flowers from which they feed on nectar and pollen. Adults are 7.2–12.9 mm (0.28–0.51 in) long. The larvae are predators of a variety of aphids in trees.
Platycheirus coerulescens, the Hooked Sedgesitter, is a species of syrphid fly in the family Syrphidae.
'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.
Blera humeralis, the Yellow-legged wood fly, is an uncommon species of syrphid fly officially described by Samuel Wendell Williston in 1882. Hoverflies are so-named for the ability to remain nearly motionless while in flight. The adults are known as flower flies, as they are commonly found around and on flowers from which they get 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.
Meromacrus gloriosus, the Glorious Elegant, is a species of syrphid fly in the family Syrphidae. Originally described from Mexico by Frank Hull in 1941 this black and yellow wasp mimic has since been observed in many locations in Texas and New Mexico.
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.
Sericomyia carolinensis, is a rare species in the family Syrphidae, found in the Southeastern part of the United States. It is distinguished by its all yellow face, single pair of small narrow yellow spots, and yellow pilose scutellum. Adults noted feeding on pear blossoms. The larval stage is unknown but is likely a "rat tailed" type larvae inhabiting nutrient rich waters, typical for the genus Sericomyia.
Dasysyrphus laticaudus, the boreal conifer fly, is a common species of syrphid fly observed in Eastern and Northern North America. 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. The larvae of this genus are aphid predators. .
Eupeodes perplexus, the bare-winged aphideater, is a species of hoverfly native to North America. Adults feed on nectar; larvae feed on aphids and scale insects.
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