Microdontinae

Subfamily of flies From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The subfamily Microdontinae contains slightly more than 400 species of hoverflies (family Syrphidae) and, while diverse, these species share several characteristics by which they differ from other syrphids. The Microdontinae are myrmecophiles, meaning they live in the nests of ants. Larval Microdontinae are scavengers or predators in ant nests,[1] and, in contrast to other syrphid larvae, have no readily apparent body segmentation. Some species also do not exhibit the typical adult flower-visiting behaviour of other hoverflies, but instead remain near their larval host colonies (some of these species have no functional mouthparts and cannot feed as adults).[2]

Phylum:Arthropoda
Class:Insecta
Order:Diptera
Family:Syrphidae
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Microdontinae
Microdon mutabilis
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Diptera
Family: Syrphidae
Subfamily: Microdontinae
Rondani, 1845
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A number of genera (e.g. Masarygus, Paragodon, Schizoceratomyia and Surimyia) lack the "spurious vein" which is characteristic of all other Syrphidae.[3] For other distinguishing characteristics, see Thompson (1969).[4]

Genera

A revised list of the genera in Microdontinae was carried out by Reemer & Ståhls (2013):[5]

References

Further reading

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