Microdon myrmicae

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Microdon myrmicae
Microdon myrmicae, Trawscoed, North Wales, June 2008 2 (17515091512).jpg
Microdon myrmicae Trawscoed, Wales
Scientific classification edit
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
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 hoverfly 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, and (Formicidae).

Microdon myrmicae lives sympatrically with other myrmecophiles including Phengaris alcon, P. nausithous and P. 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.

Two color morphs of the species are known: individuals of either sex can be predominately gold-haired or silver-haired. However, more males appear to be silver than gold, and the reverse is true for females, suggesting a complex genetic mechanism.[5]

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
  5. ^ Wolton, R. J. (2017). "Colour dimorphism in the hoverfly Microdon myrmicae Schönrogge et al.(Diptera, Syrphidae)". Dipterists Digest. 24: 169–173.

External links[]

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