Allograpta


Allograpta is a very large and diverse genus of hoverflies present throughout the world except most of the palearctic region. The adults are brightly coloured flower pollinators and most larvae have a predatory feeding mode involving soft-bodied sternorrhynchans. Certain species have diverged from this and their larvae have been found to be leaf-miners, stem-borers or pollen-feeders.
Allograpta is currently being studied using both molecular and morphological methods to produce a robust phylogeny of the genus and its related genera. Preliminary studies show the genus to be monophyletic but with the genera Sphaerophoria and Exallandra placed within which complicates matters. A 2009 review concluded that a more complete review is needed before major taxonomic changes could occur i.e. splitting the genus up or incorporating related genera, and the former subgenera were later elevated to genera in 2012.

List of species by species group

Allograpta Osten Sacken, 1875
Allograpta obliqua species group
Allograpta alamacula species group
Allograpta ventralis species group
unranked
Former subgenera:
Genus Antillus Vockeroth, 1969
Genus Claraplumula Shannon, 1927
Genus Rhinoprosopa Hull, 1942
Genus Tiquicia Thompson, 2012