Dasysyrphus


Dasysyrphus is a genus of hover flies with 50 identified species distributed worldwide. While the genus is relatively easy to identify, the differences between species have a more narrow range of variations. Therefore, identification of species by images of specimens alone should be made with care.

Larvae

The known larvae are mostly tree dwelling on both conifers and deciduous trees. They feed on aphids and other small Hemiptera resting in the daytime. This nocturnal habit, plus the camouflage coloration of the larvae may account for the lack of larval reports for this genus.

Description

These are medium-sized flies with a combination of characters: the margin of the abdomen grooved and dark with light spots present on tergites 2,3 and 4, haired eyes microtrichose wings with an elongate stigma, third vein ending at the apex of the wing, calypter with ventral lobe bare and a bare metasternum.
[file:Dasysyrphus_wing_diagram.png|thumb|Dasysyrphus wing]
[file:Dasysyrphus venustus 01.JPG|thumb|abdominal spots]

Resources for identification to species

Species