Eristalis brousii

Last updated

Eristalis brousii
Eristalis brousii side.jpg
Male Eristalis brousii
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Diptera
Family: Syrphidae
Genus: Eristalis
Species:
E. brousii
Binomial name
Eristalis brousii
Williston, 1882

Eristalis brousii, also known as the hourglass drone fly, [1] is a fly species in the Syrphidae family first described by Samuel Wendell Williston in 1882. [2] Aside from Northern Canada, the species has been largely eradicated throughout North America. Eristalis brousii are part of the hoverfly family, known for hovering above flowers to collect nectar and pollen. [3]

Contents

The larvae are rat-tailed aquatic filter-feeders. [4]

Description

Eristalis brousii is similar to Eristalis arbustorum, but with differing coloration of the mesotibia (middle section of the tibia). E. brousii has yellow coloring on the basal half of the mesotibia and reddish-brown to black coloring on the basal tarsomere of the mesoleg. E. arbustorum has yellow coloring on the basal third of the mesotibia, and brown and black coloring on the basal tarosomere of the mesoleg. E. brousii measures 9–12 mm (0.35–0.47 in) in length.

Eristalis brousii head Eristalis brousii head.png
Eristalis brousii head

The frontal triangle is slightly shiny along the middle. In females, the front is reddish pollinose and shinier above the antennae than males. The head is black, covered with yellow pollen and pile while the tubercle, the oral margin, and the cheeks are black. The antennae are black with the third joint (flagellum) being red. The eyes are pilose and in the male, contiguous for a short distance only. The arista is red and briefly pilose near the base. The posterior lateral orbits are white pollinose.

Thorax

The scutum is black and with a copper luster. Two opaque, lightly colored stripes reach from the front to the scutellum. They are limited by three narrow, opaque, black stripes. The pile of the scutum is light red. The scutellum is subtranslucent yellow or red on the outer part. The pile of the pleurae is white.

Wings

The wings are hyaline with a brown stigma. In females, the wings have a large brown spot. Venation includes the Spurious vein (sv), looping of R4+5 into r4+5, closed cell r2+3, and the Anterior cross-vein (r-m) near or beyond the middle of the discal cell (dm). [2]

Eristalis brousii abdomen Eristalis brousii abdomen.png
Eristalis brousii abdomen

Abdomen

On the abdomen of a male, the first segment is black, the second orange or yellow, broad on the sides and narrow across the hind border, elsewhere black; on the posterior, nearly a third of the width of the segment is black; the sides approach each other towards the front and then at right angles extend outward along the anterior margin of the segment; the lateral prolongations are convex on their hind borders and reach to the lateral margins; third segment with large, similar colored spots, confluent with the yellow in front but rounded on the internal posterior angles and don't reach the yellow of the hind margins; across the middle of the segment a metallic band gets cut across; elsewhere the black is opaque; fourth segment wholly shining, with a yellow hind margin and sometimes with a spot of black in front; hypopygium black. Female abdomens, in contrast to males, are mostly black; the second segment sometimes includes a small, opaque, red spot on the side, as in the male; the third and fourth segments sometimes have small opaque spots in front; on the second, third, and fourth segments, a broad, white pollinose may be located on the hind border; the hind margins are more narrowly red or yellow. [5] [6]

Distribution

The population of E. brousii has suffered a large decline in North America since the introduction of the European species E. arbustorum near Toronto around 1885. As of 2019, E. brousii is only found along the lake margin of Hudson Bay. [5]

Related Research Articles

<i>Toxomerus marginatus</i> Species of insect

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

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

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.

<i>Toxomerus politus</i> Species of fly

Toxomerus politus, commonly known as the maize calligrapher, 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.

<i>Chrysotoxum pubescens</i> Species of fly

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.

<i>Palpada vinetorum</i> Species of fly

Palpada vinetorum is a species of syrphid fly in the family Syrphidae. It is a native flower fly species to North America, mainly found in Texas and parts of the east coast.

<i>Helophilus fasciatus</i> Species of insect

Helophilus fasciatus, the narrow-headed marsh fly, is an abundant species of syrphid fly observed throughout the United States and Canada. 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 associated with wet decaying organic material, particularly accumulations of decaying vegetation in ponds and mud and farmyard manure or silage. The adults of this species lays eggs on vegetation overhanging the water. The larvae hatch and drop into the water.

<i>Meromacrus acutus</i> Species of fly

Meromacrus acutus, the Carolinian elegant, is a species of syrphid fly in the family Syrphidae. This uncommon species is distributed in the Eastern United States and South America. Notable for the black and yellow pattern mimicking wasps. 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 aquatic filter-feeders of the rat-tailed type. They are found in rot holes of trees.

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

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.

<i>Helophilus lapponicus</i> Species of fly

Helophilus lapponicus, the Yellow-margined Marsh Fly, is a common species of syrphid fly observed across northern North America, northern Europe, Greenland and Siberia. 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. Though common the larvae of this species are not known but the larvae of other species in this genus are associated with wet decaying organic material, particularly accumulations of decaying vegetation in ponds and mud and are a so called rat-tailed type.

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

<i>Palpada agrorum</i> Species of fly

Palpada agrorum, the Double-banded Plushback, is a common species of syrphid fly first officially described by Fabricius in 1787. 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 aquatic filter feeders of the rat-tailed type.

<i>Blera pictipes</i> Species of fly

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.

<i>Helophilus obscurus</i> Species of fly

Helophilus obscurus , the Obscure Marsh Fly, is a common species of syrphid fly observed throughout Canada and the northern United States and Rocky Mountains. 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 associated with wet decaying organic material, particularly accumulations of decaying vegetation in ponds and mud and farmyard manure or silage the larvae of this species are not known.

<i>Palpada albifrons</i> Species of fly

Palpada albifrons , the White-faced Plushback , is a rare species of syrphid fly observed in from Mexico north-eastward along the coastal areas of the United States. 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 are aquatic.

<i>Blera scitula</i> Species of fly

Blera scitula, the western wood fly, is an uncommon species of syrphid fly first officially described by Williston in 1882. 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 the flowers from which they get both energy-giving nectar and protein-rich pollen. The larvae of Blera are of the rat-tailed type, feeding on exuding sap or in the rot holes of trees.

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

Eristalis hirta, the black-footed drone fly, is a common Western North American species of syrphid fly, first officially described by Loew in 1866. Hoverflies get their names from the ability to remain nearly motionless while in flight. The adults are also known as flower flies as they are commonly found on and around flowers, from which they get both energy-giving nectar and protein-rich pollen. The larvae are aquatic filter-feeders of the rat-tailed type.

<i>Meromacrus gloriosus</i> Species of syrphid fly

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.

<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>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. ↑ "Hoverfly". www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca. Retrieved 2024-04-06.
  2. 1 2 Williston, S.W. (1887). "Synopsis of the North American Syrphidae". Bulletin of the United States National Museum. 31: 1–335.
  3. ↑ van Steenis, Wouter (October 2023). "The flower flies (Diptera: Syrphidae of Nebraska (U.S.A.). In honour of F. C. Thompson" (PDF). Contributions to Dipterology in honour of F. Christian Thompson. Studia Dipterologica Supplement 23. Ampyx-Verlag Dr. A. Stark. pp. 103–145 – via ResearchGate.
  4. ↑ Telford, H. S. (1970). "Eristalis (Diptera: Syrphidae) from America North of Mexico". Annals of the Entomological Society of America. 63 (5): 1201–1210. doi:10.1093/aesa/63.5.1201.
  5. 1 2 Skevington, Jeffrey H (2019). Field Guide to the Flower Flies of Northeastern North America. ISBN   9780691189406.
  6. ↑ Hull, Frank Montgomery (1925). "A Review of the Genus Eristalis Latreille in North America. Part II" (PDF). The Ohio Journal of Science. 25: 11–45.
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.