Eristalinus Explained

Eristalinus is a genus of hoverfly. Most species have very distinctive eye marking in the form of spots or banding, though these features may fade on some preserved specimens. Most are stout flies, and are nimble flyers, even compared to other hoverfly species.

Systematics

At one time the members of this genus were divided into three clades (Eristalinus, Eristalodes and Lathyrophthalmus) based on morphological characters such as whether the eyes were spotted or striped. Recently Pérez-Bañon et al. studying the European species of Eristalinus using a combination of molecular data and male genitalia characters have determined that the genus in Europe at least, divides neatly into two clades - Eristalinus (+ Lathyrophthalmus) & Eristalodes. It was also discovered that the eye patterning was not taxonomically important as Eristalodes contained members with eyes either spotted or striped.[1] [2] [3]

The following list is an attempt to organise some of the species under subgeneric headings:

List of species by subgenus

Eristalinus

Lathyrophthalmus

(around 80 species; found worldwide)

Eristalodes (13 species; Palearctic, Afrotropical, Oriental)[6]

Helophilina(1 species; Afrotropical)

Merodonoides Curran, 1931(8 species; Afrotropical, Oriental)

External links

Notes and References

  1. Brigitte Howarth. 2006. Diptera of the UAE - collated records from the literature with additions of new records, accompanied by some notes on Mydidae and Stratiomyidae new to the UAE. Tribulus. 16. 2. 24–29. Emirates Natural History Group. Abu Dhabi. 6 January 2009. 28 July 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110728071704/http://www.enhg.org/trib/V16N2/TribulusV16N2P24-29.pdf. dead.
  2. Hassan Ghahari . Rüstem Hayat . Mehrdad Tabari . Hadi Ostovan . 2008. Hover Flies (Diptera: Syrphidae) From Rice Fields and Around Grasslands of Northern Iran. Munis Entomology & Zoology . 3. 1. 275–284. Munis Research Group. Ankara, Turkey. 6 January 2009.
  3. F. Christian Thompson . Austalis, a new genus of flower flies (Diptera: Syrphidae) with revisionary notes on related genera . Zootaxa . 246 . 2003 . 1–19 . 10.11646/zootaxa.246.1.1 . 2010-01-31 . 1175-5326 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100123054922/http://www.sel.barc.usda.gov/diptera/people/FCT_pdf/austalis.pdf . 2010-01-23 .
  4. Book: Bezzi . Mario . The Syrphidae of the Ethiopian region based on material in the collection of the British Museum (Natural history) : with the descriptions of new genera and specie . 1915 . British Museum (Natural History). Department of Entomology . London . 1–146 . 26 December 2018.
  5. Web site: A.V . Barkalov . Syrphidae collection of Siberian Zoological Museum . the Institute of Animal Systematics and Ecology, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences . Novosibirsk, Russia . 28 July 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20081020082104/http://szmn.sbras.ru/Diptera/Syrphidae.htm . October 20, 2008.
  6. Perez-Banon, C.. Rojo S. . Stahls G. . Marcos-Garcia M. A. . 2003. Taxonomy of European Eristalinus (Diptera: Syrphidae) based on larval morphology and molecular data. Eur. J. Entomol. . 100. 3. 417–428. 1802-8829 . 31 January 2011 . 10.14411/eje.2003.064. free.
  7. Thompson . F. Christian . A new Afrotropical Eristaline flower fly (Diptera: Syrphidae) . Entomologist's Monthly Magazine . 2019 . 155 . 4 . 258–262 . Pemberley Books (Publishing). 10.31184/M00138908.1554.3968 .
  8. Book: Speiser . P. . 5. Cyclorapha. Pp. 113-198. In Sjostedt, Y. (ed.), Wissenschaftliche Ergebnisse der schwedischen zoologischen Expedition nach dem Kilimandjaro, dem Meru und den umgebenden Massaisteppen, Deutsch-Ostafrikas 1905-1906. 2. 10 . 1910 . P. Palmquists Aktiebolag . Stockholm . 202 pp., 2 pls.