Calcaretropidia
Genus of hoverfly
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Calcaretropidia is a genus of hoverfly (family Syrphidae) in the subtribe Tropidiina.[1]
| Calcaretropidia | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Diptera |
| Family: | Syrphidae |
| Subtribe: | Tropidiina |
| Genus: | Calcaretropidia Keiser, 1971 |
| Type species | |
| Calcaretropidia madagascariensis | |
| Species | |
| |
Classification
Calcaretropidia is one of eleven genera in the subtribe Tropidiina, the other ten being: Tropidia, Orthoprosopa, Paratropidia, Macrozelima, Meropidia, Nepenthosyrphus, Rhinotropidia, Senogaster, Syritta, and Brachypalpoides.[2]
Characteristics
Distribution
Until 2017, Calcaretropidia was thought to be endemic to the island of Madagascar. The discovery of Calcaretropidia delmohardy on the islands of Sulawesi and New Guinea disproved this,[3][4] confirming Calcaretropidia's presence on both sides of the Lydekker line and challenging earlier assumptions of endemism to Madagascar.[3]
Ecology and behaviour
Seasonality
Unlike many temperate species in the subtribe Tropidiina that exhibit summer seasonality,[2] Calcaretropidia species occur in tropical regions such as Madagascar, New Guinea, and Sulawesi, where activity is likely governed by local climatic conditions (such as humidity) rather than temperature seasonality. Currently, no general flight season has been established.[3]
Feeding
While little is known about Calcaretropidia's specific feeding behaviour, they are thought to pollinate flowers as adults.[3]