Trichopsomyia

Trichopsomyia
Trichopsomyia flavitarsisIllustration in British Entomology
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Diptera
Suborder: Brachycera
Infraorder: Muscomorpha
Section: Aschiza
Superfamily: Syrphoidea
Family: Syrphidae
Subfamily: Eristalinae
Tribe: Pipizini
Genus: Trichopsomyia
Williston, 1888

Trichopsomyia is a genus of Hoverflies, from the family Syrphidae (flower flies), in the order Diptera.[1][2]

Biology

Hover flies like the Trichopsomyia are small flies with large heads and eyes, and small antennae. Their bodies are medium to slender, with a waist that is not significantly narrow, unless it is a wasp mimicking species. They have one pair of clear wings, and the banded forms have yellow and black bands. Hoverflies resemble wasps or bees because of their black and yellow-striped abdomens. However, they are actually members of a fly family that have evolved to mimic wasps and bees for protection. [3]

Hoverfly larvae are flattened, legless and maggot-like. Most are green or brown in colour. They are carnivorous and eat aphids.

Species

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.

References

  1. Van Veen, M.P. (2004). Hoverflies of Northwest Europe, Identification Keys to the Syrphidae (Hardback). Utrecht: KNNV Publishing. p. 254. ISBN 90-5011-199-8.
  2. Stubbs, Alan E. and Falk, Steven J. (1983). British Hoverflies: An Illustrated Identification Guide. British Entomological & Natural History Society. p. 253, xvpp.
  3. http://australianmuseum.net.au/Hover-flies#sthash.NmPLiPFl.dpuf
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