Toxomerus politus

Toxomerus politus
	Toxomerus politus
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Diptera
Family:	Syrphidae
Genus:	Toxomerus
Species:	T. politus
Binomial name
	Toxomerus politus; (Say, 1823)
	T. politus distribution 2023
Synonyms
	List Scaeva polita Say, 1823 ; Syrphus politus Say, 1824 ; Mesogramma polita Osten Sacken, 1878 ; Meosgramma politumWilliston, 1891; Toxomerus politusKertesz, 1910 ; Syrphus anchoratus Macquart, 1842 ; Syrphus cingulatulus Macquart, 1850 ; Syrphus hecticus Jaennicke, 1867 .;

Last updated February 12, 2024

Toxomerus politus, commonly known as the maize calligrapher, is a species of hoverfly (Diptera: Syrphidae). It is known from North, Central and South America. (see map) 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.^[2]

Description

For terminology, see Speight key to genera and glossary

Size

8–9 mm (0.31–0.35 in)

Head

The frontal triangle is yellow, while the vertical triangle is black, pollinose in front of the ocelli, with black pile. The front in female is black, rather thickly yellowish-whitish pollinose, with narrowly yellow on the sides below the ocelli. The face is yellow, with white pollen, white pile laterally, and bare and shiny medially. The gena is also yellow. The frontal lunule is yellow, with a reddish-brown spot medially. In the female, the face is brown medially, and the frontal lunule is completely yellow. The antenna has a yellow scape and pedicel. The flagellum orange, with yellow pile. In the female the scape and pedicel have black pile and the flagellum is brown. The eye has a distinct triangular emargination on posterior margin ( typical for the genus) at or above the level of the antenna. The eyes are narrowly holoptic anteriorly in the male. The occiput is black except narrowly yellow ventrally, silver pollinose, white pilose except dorsal 1/4 black pilose anteriorly;

Thorax

The thorax is black with yellow markings. The scutum is greenish-bronze, pollinose, and has a narrow, shiny vitta and sublateral shiny vittae running along its length. There is a distinct median ashy grey stripe on the scutum, which is bordered by yellow, green, and brownish or olivaceous stripes. The scutellum is brown with a yellow margin, black pile, and a white subscutellar fringe. The pleurae have a metallic, shining appearance, and there are three yellow spots; one on the meso, one on the sterno-pleurae, and one above the front coxae, which is smaller than the other two. There is a silver-gray, pollinose finish on several areas. Ventrally and laterally, the pleurae are covered in white hairs, except for the posterior anepisternum which is yellow-haired, and dorsally they are covered in yellow hairs.

Wings

Wings nearly clear, extensively microtrichose with the stigma dilutely yellow. The calypter is yellow except brown on dorsal margin.The halter is yellow.

Legs

The front and middle coxae are mostly black, though some have a yellow appicly. The hind coxae are yellow and covered in yellow pile. The femora are mostly yellow with yellow pile, and the upper third of the middle and hind femora are black pilose. The tibiae are yellow and covered in yellow pile, except for the pile on the middle tibia which is black. The tarsi are yellow, except for the distal hind tarsi which are black dorsally and yellow pilose, except for the distal hind tarsi which are black pilose dorsally. In the female, all the metatarsi are brown-black dorsally and black pilose dorsally.

Abdomen

The abdomen is mostly black, with a yellow base and sides on the first segment. The second segment has a broad, entire yellow cross-band on the median. The female's third and fourth segments have a narrow yellow border at the front and a thin line passing through narrow interruptions of the broad yellow cross-bands. The fifth segment is yellow, except for two rectangular, parallel, and more or less connected black spots. The male's third and fourth segments are yellow or yellowish red, except for a pair of black lines on each side, resembling the sides of a square and being more or less indistinct. The fifth segment and the hypopygium are entirely yellow. ^[3]^[4]^[5]

Related Research Articles

Toxomerus marginatus, also known as the calligrapher fly, is a common species of hoverfly. It is found in many parts of North America.

Eristalis cryptarum is a holarctic species of hoverfly. Known as the bog hoverfly or bog-dwelling drone fly, it is a bog specialist but may occur in other wetlands. Its larvae are assumed to live in peat that is saturated with water, such as that found in these boggy areas. The female has been observed depositing eggs on and close to very fresh cow dung along oligotrophic seepages in moorland.

Toxomerus geminatus (Say,1823) the Eastern Calligrapher, is a common species of syrphid fly observed in the eastern and central United States and Canada.(see map) 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 6.1–7.6 mm (0.24–0.30 in) long. The larvae are predators of a variety of aphids and mites.

Macrometopia maculipennis is a species of hoverfly, from the family Syrphidae, in the order Diptera. It was first found in Colombia, and was named after its patterned wings.

Palpada lindneri is a species of flower flies first found in Bolivia. Palpada lindneri is easily distinguished from all neotropical Palpada species by its abdominal pattern.

Palpada suprarufa is a species of flower flies first found in Ecuador. It is named suprarufa, based on the appearance of the species.

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.

Eristalis transversa, the transverse banded drone fly, is a common species of syrphid fly first officially described by Wiedemann in 1830. 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 are rat-tailed type but larvae of this specific species has not been reported.

Syrphus knabi, the The Eastern flower Fly, is an uncommon species of syrphid fly observed in the eastern 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.

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

Arctosyrphus willingii, the northern longbeak, is a species of rat-tail maggot fly in the family Syrphidae. This species was formerly a member of the genus Lejops.

Blera pictipes, the Painted Wood Fly, is a rare species of syrphid fly first officially described by Bigot in 1883. 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 are of the rat-tailed type, feeding on exuding sap or in the rot holes of trees.

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 robusta, the Greenish Wood Fly, is a rare species of syrphid fly first officially described by Curran in 1922. Hoverflies get this name 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 the 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.

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.

'Blera metcalfi , Metcalf's wood fly, is a rare species of syrphid fly first officially described by Curran in 1925 Hoverflies get their name 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 are of the rat-tailed type feeding on exuding sap or in the rot holes of trees.

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.

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.

Eristalis brousii is a fly species in the Syrphidae family. Aside from northern Canada, the species has been largely eradicated throughout North America. American paleontologist and taxonomist Samuel Wendell Williston published the first official description of it in 1882. Eristalis brousii are hoverflies known for their behavior of hovering near flowers, where they collect nectar and pollen. The larvae are rat-tailed aquatic filter-feeders.

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. .

References

↑ Toxomerus politus. Catalogue of Life
↑ Skevington, Jeff. (2013). "General Information on Toxomerus". Canadian National Collection of Insects, Arachnids and Nematodes.
↑ Metz, Mark A.; Thompson, F. Christian (2001). "A revision of the larger species of Toxomerus (Diptera: Syrphidae) with description of a new species" (PDF). Studia dipterologica. 8: 225–256.
↑ Williston, S.W. (1887). "Synopsis of the North American Syrphidae". Bulletin of the United States National Museum. 31: 1–335. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
↑ Vockeroth, J. R. (1992). The Flower Flies of the Subfamily Syrphinae of Canada, Alaska, and Greenland (Diptera: Syrphidae). Part 18. The Insects and Arachnids of Canada (PDF). Ottawa, Ontario: Canadian Government Pub Centre. pp. 1–456. ISBN 0-660-13830-1. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-06-15. Retrieved 2013-06-26.

This hoverfly article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.

[1] Toxomerus politus. Catalogue of Life

[2] Skevington, Jeff. (2013). "General Information on Toxomerus". Canadian National Collection of Insects, Arachnids and Nematodes.

[metz01-3] Metz, Mark A.; Thompson, F. Christian (2001). "A revision of the larger species of Toxomerus (Diptera: Syrphidae) with description of a new species" (PDF). Studia dipterologica. 8: 225–256.

[williston1887-4] Williston, S.W. (1887). "Synopsis of the North American Syrphidae". Bulletin of the United States National Museum. 31: 1–335. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .

[Vockeroth-5] Vockeroth, J. R. (1992). The Flower Flies of the Subfamily Syrphinae of Canada, Alaska, and Greenland (Diptera: Syrphidae). Part 18. The Insects and Arachnids of Canada (PDF). Ottawa, Ontario: Canadian Government Pub Centre. pp. 1–456. ISBN 0-660-13830-1. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-06-15. Retrieved 2013-06-26.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]