Eristalinus megacephalus explained

Eristalinus megacephalus is a species of hoverfly.

Description

Eristalinus megacephalus has a black abdomen and golden horizontal stripes larger in males. It has a black thorax,[1] legs with black tips, transparent, flexible wings, a large head and golden compound eyes with pale purple spots.[2] Being about 8–11 mm long,[3] it is a good pollinator, and uses Batesian mimicry to look like hymenopteran bees and scare away predators.[4] Its appearance is also similar to bee flies (family Bombyliidae).[5] The species is listed in 2: 63 of Rossi's publication Mantissa insectorum.[6] There are no subspecies. It is the rarest species of the genus Eristalinus, and is common but not abundant.

The species's flight period is from May to October, and is most plentiful from June to July.[7]

Distribution

E. megacephalus can be found in most countries, including South Africa, Egypt, Sri Lanka, China, Taiwan, India, Java, Guam, Southern Spain, Turkey, North Africa, Iran, and coastal parts of Italy.[8]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: African Wild Insect Book Flies Photos & Descriptions. phpBB Group. 27 November 2014.
  2. Web site: Biodiversidad Costa Granadina: Eristalinus megacephalus (Spanish). Biodiversidad Costa Granadina. 9 October 2013. 27 November 2014.
  3. Web site: Biosystematic Studies of Ceylonese Wasps, XVII. The Smithsonian Institution. 27 November 2014.
  4. Web site: Animalandia: Eristalinus megacephalus, Rossi, 1794 (Spanish). 26 November 2014.
  5. Web site: blipfoto: Eristalinus megacephalus. 27 November 2014.
  6. Web site: Introduction to Hover Flies. 27 November 2014.
  7. Web site: A survey of the hoverflies of northeastern Algeria. Egyptian British Biological Society. 27 November 2014.
  8. Web site: Global Species: Eristalinus megacephalus. Myers Enterprises II 2009-2014. 26 November 2014.