Microdon myrmicae

Microdon myrmicae
Microdon myrmicae Trawscoed,Wales
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Hexapoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Diptera
Family: Syrphidae
Genus: Microdon
Species: M. myrmicae
Binomial name
Microdon myrmicae
Schonrogge, Barr, Wardlaw, Napper, Gardner, Breen, Elmes & Thoma 2002

Microdon myrmicae is a species of 'hoverflies' belonging to the family Syrphidae.[1]

It is a Palearctic species with a limited distribution in Europe (Ireland, Great Britain, the Netherlands, Germany, France, Norway, Poland and European Russia (Karelia).[2]

M. myrmicae is a parasite on Myrmica scabrinodis, M. gallieni and M.tulinae (Formicidae).

Microdon myrmicae lives sympatrically with other myrmecophiles including Maculinea alcon, M. nausithous and M. teleius (in one location all four species cooccur).[3]

Description

External images For terms see Morphology of Diptera
Wing length 6·75-8·25 mm. See references for determination [4] At present M.mutabilis is only reliably distinguished from M.myrmicae by features of the puparium.

References

  1. Speight, M.C.D. (2011). "Species accounts of European Syrphidae (Diptera)" (PDF). Syrph the Net, the database of European Syrphidae. 65: 285pp.
  2. Fauna Europaea
  3. Simona Bonelli, Andrew Worgan, Sophie Everett and Karsten Schonrogge Host specificity in Microdon myrmicae, a sympatric social parasite to the Maculinea in moist grassland ecosystems in Studies on the Ecology and Conservation of Butterflies in Europe vol. 2, pp.69-71 a_sympatric_soicial_parasite_to_the_Maculinea_in_moist_grassland_ecosystems
  4. Van Veen, M. (2004) Hoverflies of Northwest Europe: identification keys to the Syrphidae. 256pp. KNNV Publishing, Utrecht.addendum
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