| Xanthandrus comtus | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Diptera |
| Family: | Syrphidae |
| Genus: | Xanthandrus |
| Species: | X. comtus |
| Binomial name | |
| Xanthandrus comtus | |
| Synonyms | |
Xanthandrus comtus is a species of hoverfly. It is found in the Palearctic. [2] [3]
External images For terms see Morphology of Diptera
Wing length Wide abdomen with yellow marks. Thoracic dorsum polished black. Male with round marks on tergite 2 and confluent marks on tergites 3 and 4 (as a deeply incised band). Female with oval marks on tergite 2 and square marks on tergites 3 and 4. legs mainly orange. Antenne orange. Long black pterostigma. The male genitalia and larvae are figured by Dusek and Laska (1967). [4] See references for determination. [5] [6] [7] [8]
Palearctic Southern Norway South to Iberia. Ireland East through Central Europe and Southern Europe to Russia and the Caucasus and on to the Russian Far East and the Pacific coast; Japan; Formosa. [9] [10]
Habitat: Fagus, Quercus and Pinus forest and scrub. [11] Flowers visited include umbellifers, Arbutus unedo, Filipendula, Juncus, Leontodon, Lonicera, Mentha aquatica, Rosa, Rubus, Succisa. [12]
The larvae predate aphids and the caterpillars of various small moths including Tortricidae both on trees and low-growing plants. They are also predators of the caterpillars of the pine processionary moths Thaumetopoea pinivora and Thaumetopoea pityocampa .
Syrphus ribesii is a very common Holarctic species of hoverfly. Its larvae feed on aphids. In common with many other species of hoverfly, males have the eyes meeting on the top of the head, whilst females have their eyes widely separated.
Leucozona glaucia, the Pale-saddled Leucozona is a Palearctic hoverfly. Larvae feed on ground layer aphids. Adults are usually seen visiting flowers.
Eupeodes corollae is a very common European species of hoverfly. Adults are 6–11 millimetres (0.24–0.43 in) in body length. Males and females have different marking on the abdomen; males have square commas on tergites 3 and 4, whereas females have narrow commas. Larvae feed on aphids. This species has been used experimentally in glasshouses as a method of aphid control, and to control scale insects and aphids in fruit plantations. They were found to be partial to the fruit, eating more fruit than aphids.
Eupeodes luniger is a common species of hoverfly.
Eupeodes latifasciatus is a species of hoverfly. Adults feed on nectar; larvae feed on aphids and scale insects.
Dasysyrphus albostriatus is a Palearctic species of hoverfly.
Dasysyrphus venustus is a Holarctic species of hoverfly.
Epistrophe eligans is a European species of hoverfly.
Leucozona laternaria is a European species of hoverfly.
Leucozona lucorum is a Palearctic and Nearctic species of hoverfly.
Meliscaeva auricollis is a West Palearctic species of hoverfly.
Cheilosia variabilis, common name figwort cheilosia, is a species of hoverfly belonging to the family Syrphidae.
Fagisyrphus cinctus is a European species of hoverfly. This species has a muddled taxonomic history. Older authors treated it as a member of the genus Melangyna, and later sources in Meligramma, but the most recent sources recognize it as the sole species in its own monotypic genus, Fagisyrphus.
Syrphus torvus, the Hairy-eyed Flower Fly, is a common species of hoverfly found in the Holarctic. The adults feed on pollen and nectar, but the larvae feed on aphids.
Syrphus vitripennis is a very common European and North American species of hoverfly. Its larvae feed on aphids
Anasimyia lineata is a Palaearctic species of hoverfly.
Heringia heringi is a European species of hoverfly.
Melangyna arctica is a Holarctic species of hoverfly.
Didea alneti is a Holarctic species of hoverfly.
Epistrophe nitidicollis is a European and North American species of hoverfly.