Ptecticus

Ptecticus
Ptecticus sp. in Kerala
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Diptera
Family:	Stratiomyidae
Subfamily:	Sarginae
Genus:	Ptecticus Loew, 1855

Ptecticus is an Old World genus of flies in the family Stratiomyidae.^[1] The ground colour of the body may be yellow, brown or black, and the abdomen often shows a degree of transverse stripes. They may mimic parasitic wasps in appearance and habits. The wings are often dusky and the second abdominal segment may be translucent. A well-developed inner projection of the second antennal segment is characteristic for the majority of Ptecticus species.^[2] Their larvae are broad, flat and segmented maggots, which may be found in fermenting fruit. As of 2000, 40 species were known from the Oriental region alone.^[2]

References

1. Picker, M.; et al. (2002). Field Guide to Insects of South Africa. Cape Town: Struik. p. 272. ISBN 978-1-77007-061-5.
2. Rozkosny, Rudolf; Kovac, Damir (2000). "A Revision of the Ptecticus tenebrifer species group (Insecta: Diptera: Stratiomyidae)" (PDF). The Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 48 (1): 103–110. Retrieved 4 January 2013.

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