Eristalis bellardii

Eristalis bellardii
Male
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Diptera
Family: Syrphidae
Genus: Eristalis
Species:
E. bellardii
Binomial name
Eristalis bellardii
Jaennicke, 1867

Eristalis bellardii, the Mexican mountain drone fly, is an uncommon species of syrphid fly first officially described by Jaennicke in 1867. It is infrequently found in the Southwestern United States, Mexico and Central America. In appearance it is somewhat like that of a honeybee.[1] 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.[2][3][4]

Description

External images For terms see Morphology of Diptera

Head
Black with face sometimes reddish brown laterally covered with yellowish- white pollen except for the shiny central stripe extend nearly to the antennae.: The gena is shiny with pale yellow pile. The frontal lunule is reddish brown. Antenna with a bare arista. The pile of the eye is brownish yellow but white ventrally. Male eyes touch along center while female eyes are separate.
Thorax
Black with yellow pile except the central part of the scutellum which has black pile over a reddish-brown base.
Wings
Hyaline with a yellow pilose tegula.
Abdomen
First tergum black, second tergum dull, orange on lateral 2/3, black on medial 1/3. Third tergum similar to second tergum in the male but the female orange on lateral is only about 1/3 the width. Fourth tergum in male orange on lateral 1/3 but in female entirely black.
Genitalia
Figure #9 in [=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/54855#page/228/mode/1up]
Larvae
Unknown [5]

References

  1. ^ Jaennicke, F. (1867). "Neue exotische Dipteren". Abhandlungen der Senckenbergischen Naturforschenden Gesellschaft. 6: 311–408.
  2. ^ "Eristalis bellardii Report". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 2019-09-23.
  3. ^ "Eristalis bellardii". GBIF. Retrieved 2019-09-23.
  4. ^ THOMPSON, F. CHRISTIAN (1997). "Revision Of The Eristalis Flower Flies (Diptera: Syrphidae) Of The Americas South Of The United States". Entomological Society of Washington.

Further reading

  • 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.