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m →‎Subgenus Dimeraspis: added species in this subgenus Note a page for this subgenus is needed.
"s.s." and "s.l." are short for "sensu stricto" and "sensu lato"
 
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| type_species = ''[[Microdon mutabilis|Musca mutabilis]]''
| type_species = ''[[Microdon mutabilis|Musca mutabilis]]''
| type_species_authority = [[Carl Linnaeus|Linnaeus]], [[10th edition of Systema Naturae|1758]]
| type_species_authority = [[Carl Linnaeus|Linnaeus]], [[10th edition of Systema Naturae|1758]]
| subdivision_ranks = Subgenera and species groups<ref name=Reemer2013>{{cite journal|first1=Menno |last1=Reemer|first2=Gunilla|last2=Ståhls|year=2013|title=Generic revision and species classification of the Microdontinae (Diptera, Syrphidae)|journal=[[ZooKeys]]|issue=288|pages=1–213|doi=10.3897/zookeys.288.4095|pmid=23798897|pmc=3690914}}</ref>
| subdivision_ranks = Subgenera and species groups<ref name=Reemer2013>{{cite journal|first1=Menno |last1=Reemer|first2=Gunilla|last2=Ståhls|year=2013|title=Generic revision and species classification of the Microdontinae (Diptera, Syrphidae)|journal=[[ZooKeys]]|issue=288|pages=1–213|doi=10.3897/zookeys.288.4095|pmid=23798897|pmc=3690914|doi-access=free }}</ref>
| subdivision =
| subdivision =
*''[[Chymophila]]'' <small>[[Pierre-Justin-Marie Macquart|Macquart]], 1834</small>
*''[[Chymophila]]'' <small>[[Pierre-Justin-Marie Macquart|Macquart]], 1834</small>
*''[[Dimeraspis]]'' <small>Newman, 1838</small>
*''[[Dimeraspis]]'' <small>Newman, 1838</small>
*''[[Megodon]]'' <small>Keiser, 1971</small>
*''[[Megodon]]'' <small>Keiser, 1971</small>
*''Microdon'' s.s.
*''Microdon'' ''[[sensu stricto]]''
*''[[Myiacerapis]]'' <small>[[Frank Montgomery Hull|Hull]], 1949</small>
*''[[Myiacerapis]]'' <small>[[Frank Montgomery Hull|Hull]], 1949</small>
*''[[Syrphipogon]]'' <small>[[Frank Montgomery Hull|Hull]], 1937</small>
*''[[Syrphipogon]]'' <small>[[Frank Montgomery Hull|Hull]], 1937</small>
*''Microdon'' s.l.
*''Microdon'' ''[[sensu lato]]''
**''craigheadii''-group
**''craigheadii''-group
**''erythros''-group
**''erythros''-group
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Hover flies (family [[Syrphidae]]) of the genus '''''Microdon''''' are unusual among the [[Fly|Diptera]]. Like other members of the subfamily, they are [[myrmecophile]]s, meaning they inhabit the nests of ants.
Hover flies (family [[Syrphidae]]) of the genus '''''Microdon''''' are unusual among the [[Fly|Diptera]]. Like other members of the subfamily, they are [[myrmecophile]]s, meaning they inhabit the nests of ants.


There are 249 species known worldwide, with the greatest diversity being from the [[tropics]]; 30 species are known from North America, though it is expected that many of these species will be placed in other genera in time, as ''Microdon'' has been used as a catch-all for various unrelated species not placed in other genera.<ref name="Cheng2008">{{cite journal | last1 = Cheng | first1 = Xin-Yue | last2 = Thompson | first2 = F. Christian | year = 2008 | title = A generic conspectus of the Microdontinae (Diptera: Syrphidae) with the description of two new genera from Africa and China | journal = Zootaxa | volume = 1879 | pages = 21–48 | publisher = Magnolia Press | location = New Zealand | doi = 10.11646/zootaxa.1879.1.3 | issn = 1175-5334 | url = http://mapress.com/zootaxa/2008/f/zt01879p048.pdf | access-date = 2009-09-11 | doi-access = free }}</ref><ref name="Thompson">{{cite journal |last = Thompson | first = F.C |year=1981 |title=Revisionary notes on Nearctic ''Microdon'' flies (Diptera: Syrphidae) |journal=Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington |volume=83 |pages=725–758 |publisher=Allen Press |location=Washington D.C. |issn= 0013-8797 }}</ref>{{update-inline|reason=No longer up-to-date, see Reemer & Ståhls (2013) for current information.|date=December 2018}}
There are 249 species known worldwide, with the greatest diversity being from the [[tropics]]; 30 species are known from North America, though it is expected that many of these species will be placed in other genera in time, as ''Microdon'' has been used as a catch-all for various unrelated species not placed in other genera.<ref name="Cheng2008">{{cite journal | last1 = Cheng | first1 = Xin-Yue | last2 = Thompson | first2 = F. Christian | year = 2008 | title = A generic conspectus of the Microdontinae (Diptera: Syrphidae) with the description of two new genera from Africa and China | journal = Zootaxa | volume = 1879 | pages = 21–48 | publisher = Magnolia Press | location = New Zealand | doi = 10.11646/zootaxa.1879.1.3 | issn = 1175-5334 | url = http://mapress.com/zootaxa/2008/f/zt01879p048.pdf | access-date = 2009-09-11 | doi-access = free }}</ref><ref name="Thompson">{{cite journal |last = Thompson | first = F.C |year=1981 |title=Revisionary notes on Nearctic ''Microdon'' flies (Diptera: Syrphidae) |journal=Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington |volume=83 |pages=725–758 |publisher=Allen Press |location=Washington D.C. |issn= 0013-8797 }}</ref>{{update inline|reason=No longer up-to-date, see Reemer & Ståhls (2013) for current information.|date=December 2018}}


==Appearance==
==Appearance==
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Adult ''Microdon'' flies do not behave like other syrphid flies; they do not hover around flowers, but instead remain very near the ant colonies which serve as larval hosts.
Adult ''Microdon'' flies do not behave like other syrphid flies; they do not hover around flowers, but instead remain very near the ant colonies which serve as larval hosts.


Larvae may be found very deep in ant colonies. Some species actively feed on ant larvae in the colony,<ref name="Duffield"/> others are speculated to be scavengers{{citation needed|date=May 2018}}. ''Microdon'' larvae are more or less restricted in their ant host species. Some ''Microdon'' species have only ever been found in the colonies of a single ant species, while others are restricted to related ant species or genera. Because these flies have such cryptic life cycles, biological information on most species is limited.
Larvae may be found very deep in ant colonies. Some species actively feed on ant larvae in the colony,<ref name="Duffield"/> others are speculated to be scavengers.<ref>{{cite book |last=Donisthorpe |first=H. St. J. |author-link= |date=1927 |title=The guests of British ants : their habits and life-histories |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iBA5AAAAMAAJ&q=The+guests+of+British+ants. |location=London |publisher=Routledge |pages= 244 |isbn= }}</ref> ''Microdon'' larvae are more or less restricted in their ant host species. Some ''Microdon'' species have only ever been found in the colonies of a single ant species, while others are restricted to related ant species or genera. Because these flies have such cryptic life cycles, biological information on most species is limited.


==Species==
==Species==
''Microdon'' is divided into six subgenera (including ''Microdon'' s.s.), plus five species groups and some unplaced species in "''Microdon'' s.l.".<ref name=Reemer2013/>
''Microdon'' is divided into six subgenera (including ''Microdon'' ''[[sensu stricto]]''), plus five species groups and some unplaced species in ''Microdon'' ''[[sensu lato]]''.<ref name=Reemer2013/>

===Subgenus ''Chymophila''===
===Subgenus ''Chymophila''===
{{main|Chymophila}}
{{main|Chymophila}}
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*''[[Microdon abditus]]'' <small>Thompson, 1981</small> <ref name=thompson81/>
*''[[Microdon abditus]]'' <small>Thompson, 1981</small> <ref name=thompson81/>
*''[[Microdon adventitius]]'' <small>Thompson, 1981</small> <ref name=thompson81> {{cite journal |last= Thompson |first= F.C |year=1981 |title=Revisionary notes on Nearctic ''Microdon'' flies (Diptera: Syrphidae) |journal=Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington |volume=83 |pages=725–758 |url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/55215#page/755/mode/1up}} </ref>
*''[[Microdon adventitius]]'' <small>Thompson, 1981</small> <ref name=thompson81>{{cite journal |last= Thompson |first= F.C |year=1981 |title=Revisionary notes on Nearctic ''Microdon'' flies (Diptera: Syrphidae) |journal=Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington |volume=83 |pages=725–758 |url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/55215#page/755/mode/1up}}</ref>
*''[[Microdon fuscipennis]]'' (Macquart, 1834)
*''[[Microdon fuscipennis]]'' <small>(Macquart, 1834)</small>
*''[[Microdon globosus]]'' <small>(Fabricius, 1805)</small><ref name="Fabricius1805">{{cite book |last=Fabricius |first= Johann Christian |author-link= |date=1805 |title=Systema antliatorum : secundum ordines, genera, species, adiectis synonymis, locis, observationibus, descriptionibus |url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/53432#page/11/mode/1up |location= Brunsvigae |publisher= |page= 372 |isbn= }}?</ref>
*''[[Microdon globosus]]'' (Fabricius, 1805) not in wiki microdon<ref name="Fabricius1805"/>

*''[[Microdon marmoratum]]'' <small>Bigot, 1884</small> <ref name="Bigot1884">{{cite journal |last1=Bigot |first1=Jacques-Marie-Frangile |title=Diptères nouveaux ou peu connus. 22e partie, XXXII: Syrphidi (2e partie). espèces nouvelles, No 1er |journal=Annales de la Société Entomologique de France |date=1884 |volume=3 |issue=6 |pages=315–356 |url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/32548743#page/319/mode/1up |access-date=24 July 2021}}</ref>
*''[[Microdon marmoratum]]'' <small>Bigot, 1884</small> <ref name="Bigot1884">{{cite journal |last1=Bigot |first1=Jacques-Marie-Frangile |title=Diptères nouveaux ou peu connus. 22e partie, XXXII: Syrphidi (2e partie). espèces nouvelles, No 1er |journal=Annales de la Société Entomologique de France |date=1884 |volume=3 |issue=6 |pages=315–356 |url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/32548743#page/319/mode/1up |access-date=24 July 2021}}</ref>
⚫
*''[[Microdon remotus]]'' <small>Knab, 1917</small><ref>{{cite journal |last=Knab |first=F. |year=1917 |title=On some North American species of Microdon (Diptera: Syrphidae) |journal=Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington |volume=30 |pages= 133–143 |url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/3335018#page/162/mode/1up }}</ref>

⚫
*''[[Microdon remotus]]'' <small>Knab, 1917</small><ref > {{cite journal |last=Knab |first=F. |year=1917 |title=On some North American species of Microdon (Diptera: Syrphidae) |journal=Proceedings of the Biological Society Washington |volume=30 |pages= 133-143 |url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/3335018#page/162/mode/1up }} </ref>


===Subgenus ''Megodon''===
===Subgenus ''Megodon''===
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*''[[Microdon stuckenbergi|M. stuckenbergi]]'' <small>(Keiser, 1971)</small>
*''[[Microdon stuckenbergi|M. stuckenbergi]]'' <small>(Keiser, 1971)</small>


===Subgenus ''Microdon'' s.s.===
===Subgenus ''Microdon'' ''sensu stricto''===


Nearctic:
[[Nearctic realm|Nearctic]]:
{{columns-list|colwidth=15em|
{{columns-list|colwidth=15em|
* ''[[Microdon abstrusus]]'' <small>[[F. Christian Thompson|Thompson]], 1981</small><ref name="Thompson"/>
* ''[[Microdon abstrusus]]'' <small>[[F. Christian Thompson|Thompson]], 1981</small><ref name="Thompson"/>
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* ''[[Microdon xanthopilis]]'' <small>[[Charles Henry Tyler Townsend|Townsend]], 1895</small>
* ''[[Microdon xanthopilis]]'' <small>[[Charles Henry Tyler Townsend|Townsend]], 1895</small>
}}
}}
Neotropical:
[[Neotropical realm|Neotropical]]:
{{columns-list|colwidth=15em|
{{columns-list|colwidth=15em|
* ''[[Microdon aureopilis]]'' <small>Marinoni, 2004</small>
* ''[[Microdon aureopilis]]'' <small>Marinoni, 2004</small>
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* ''[[Microdon brutus]]'' <small>[[Frank Montgomery Hull|Hull]], 1944</small>
* ''[[Microdon brutus]]'' <small>[[Frank Montgomery Hull|Hull]], 1944</small>
* ''[[Microdon caesar]]'' <small>[[Charles Howard Curran|Curran]], 1940</small>
* ''[[Microdon caesar]]'' <small>[[Charles Howard Curran|Curran]], 1940</small>
* ''[[Microdon colakriki]]'' <small>Reemer, 2014</small><ref name="Reemer2014">{{cite journal|first=Menno|last=Reemer|year=2014|title=A review of Microdontinae (Diptera: Syrphidae) of Surinam, with a key to the Neotropical genera|journal=Tijdschrift voor Entomologie|volume=157|issue=1|pages=27–57|doi=10.1163/22119434-00002035}}</ref>
* ''[[Microdon colakriki]]'' <small>Reemer, 2014</small><ref name="Reemer2014">{{cite journal|first=Menno|last=Reemer|year=2014|title=A review of Microdontinae (Diptera: Syrphidae) of Surinam, with a key to the Neotropical genera|journal=Tijdschrift voor Entomologie|volume=157|issue=1|pages=27–57|doi=10.1163/22119434-00002035|doi-access=free}}</ref>
* ''[[Microdon crassitarsis]]'' <small>([[Pierre-Justin-Marie Macquart|Macquart]], 1848)</small>
* ''[[Microdon crassitarsis]]'' <small>([[Pierre-Justin-Marie Macquart|Macquart]], 1848)</small>
* ''[[Microdon eutristis]]'' <small>[[Charles Howard Curran|Curran]], 1925</small>
* ''[[Microdon eutristis]]'' <small>[[Charles Howard Curran|Curran]], 1925</small>
Line 162: Line 161:
}}
}}


Palaearctic:
[[Palearctic realm|Palaearctic]]:
{{columns-list|colwidth=15em|
{{columns-list|colwidth=15em|
* ''[[Microdon analis]]'' <small>([[Pierre-Justin-Marie Macquart|Macquart]], 1842)</small>
* ''[[Microdon analis]]'' <small>([[Pierre-Justin-Marie Macquart|Macquart]], 1842)</small>
* ''[[Microdon auricomus]]'' <small>[[Daniel William Coquillett|Coquillett]], 1898</small>
* ''[[Microdon auricomus]]'' <small>[[Daniel William Coquillett|Coquillett]], 1898</small>
* ''[[Microdon dentigiganteus]]'' <small>Tian, Huo & Zhang, 2019</small><ref>{{cite journal|last1=Tian|first1=Jing|last2=Huo|first2=Ke-Ke|last3=Zhang|first3=Chun-Tian|last4=Ren|first4=Bing-Zhong|year=2019|title=''Microdon dentigiganteum'' sp. nov. and other Microdontinae species (Diptera: Syrphidae) from Northeast China|journal=[[Zootaxa]]|volume=4712|issue=1|pages=65–76|doi=10.11646/zootaxa.4712.1.4|pmid=32230696}}</ref>
* ''[[Microdon dentigiganteus]]'' <small>Tian, Huo & Zhang, 2019</small><ref>{{cite journal|last1=Tian|first1=Jing|last2=Huo|first2=Ke-Ke|last3=Zhang|first3=Chun-Tian|last4=Ren|first4=Bing-Zhong|year=2019|title=''Microdon dentigiganteum'' sp. nov. and other Microdontinae species (Diptera: Syrphidae) from Northeast China|journal=[[Zootaxa]]|volume=4712|issue=1|pages=65–76|doi=10.11646/zootaxa.4712.1.4|pmid=32230696|s2cid=212755775 }}</ref>
* ''[[Microdon devius]]'' <small>([[Carl Linnaeus|Linnaeus]], 1761)</small>
* ''[[Microdon devius]]'' <small>([[Carl Linnaeus|Linnaeus]], 1761)</small>
* ''[[Microdon hauseri]]'' <small>Reemer, 2013</small><ref name=Reemer2013/>
* ''[[Microdon hauseri]]'' <small>Reemer, 2013</small><ref name=Reemer2013/>
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{{main|Myiacerapis}}
{{main|Myiacerapis}}


⚫
'''''Myiacerapis''''' is a [[subgenus]] of the [[hoverfly]] [[genus]] ''Microdon''. It contains only one species, '''''Microdon villosus.'''''<ref name=Reemer2013>{{cite journal|first1=Menno |last1=Reemer|first2=Gunilla|last2=Ståhls|year=2013|title=Generic revision and species classification of the Microdontinae (Diptera, Syrphidae)|journal=[[ZooKeys]]|issue=288|pages=1–213|doi=10.3897/zookeys.288.4095|pmid=23798897|pmc=3690914|doi-access=free }}</ref><ref name="Cheng2008">{{cite journal | last1 = Cheng | first1 = Xin-Yue | last2 = Thompson | first2 = F. Christian | year = 2008 | title = A generic conspectus of the Microdontinae (Diptera: Syrphidae) with the description of two new genera from Africa and China | journal = Zootaxa | volume = 1879 | pages = 21–48 | publisher = Magnolia Press | location = New Zealand | doi = 10.11646/zootaxa.1879.1.3 | issn = 1175-5334 | url = http://mapress.com/zootaxa/2008/f/zt01879p048.pdf | access-date = 2009-09-11 | doi-access = free }}</ref> It is native to [[Uganda]], though an undescribed species is known from [[South Africa]].<ref name=Reemer2013/> [[Larva]]e are found in [[ant]] nests.

⚫
'''''Myiacerapis''''' is a [[subgenus]] of the [[hoverfly]] [[genus]] ''[[Microdon]]''. It contains only one species, '''''Microdon villosus.'''''<ref name=Reemer2013>{{cite journal|first1=Menno |last1=Reemer|first2=Gunilla|last2=Ståhls|year=2013|title=Generic revision and species classification of the Microdontinae (Diptera, Syrphidae)|journal=[[ZooKeys]]|issue=288|pages=1–213|doi=10.3897/zookeys.288.4095|pmid=23798897|pmc=3690914|doi-access=free }}</ref><ref name="Cheng2008">{{cite journal |author=Xin-Yue Cheng & F. Christian Thompson |year=2008 |title=A generic conspectus of the Microdontinae (Diptera: Syrphidae) with the description of two new genera from Africa and China |journal=[[Zootaxa]] |volume=1879 |pages=21–48 |doi=10.11646/zootaxa.1879.1.3 |url=http://mapress.com/zootaxa/2008/f/zt01879p048.pdf |doi-access=free }}</ref> It is native to [[Uganda]], though an undescribed species is known from [[South Africa]].<ref name=Reemer2013/> [[Larva]]e are found in [[ant]] nests.


===Subgenus ''Syrphipogon''===
===Subgenus ''Syrphipogon''===
{{main|Syrphipogon}}
{{main|Syrphipogon}}
There are two species described in ''Syrphipogon'':<ref name=Reemer2013/>
There are two species described in ''Syrphipogon'':<ref name=Reemer2013/>
*''[[Microdon fucatissimus|M. fucatissimus]]'' <small>([[Frank Montgomery Hull|Hull]], 1937)</small><ref name="Hull1937b"/>
*''[[Microdon fucatissimus|M. fucatissimus]]'' <small>([[Frank Montgomery Hull|Hull]], 1937)</small>
*''[[Microdon gaigei|M. gaigei]]'' <small>Steyskal, 1953</small>
*''[[Microdon gaigei|M. gaigei]]'' <small>Steyskal, 1953</small>


===''Microdon'' s.l. species groups===
===''Microdon'' ''sensu lato'' species groups===
====''craigheadii''-group====
====''craigheadii''-group====
Nearctic:
Nearctic:
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====''erythros''-group====
====''erythros''-group====
Afrotropical:
[[Afrotropical realm|Afrotropical]]:
* ''[[Microdon erythros]]'' <small>[[Mario Bezzi|Bezzi]], 1908</small>
* ''[[Microdon erythros]]'' <small>[[Mario Bezzi|Bezzi]], 1908</small>
:= ''Microdon erytherus'' <small>[[Mario Bezzi|Bezzi]], 1921</small> (misspelling)
:= ''Microdon erytherus'' <small>[[Mario Bezzi|Bezzi]], 1921</small> (misspelling)
Line 217: Line 215:


====''mirabilis''-group====
====''mirabilis''-group====
Neotropical:
[[Neotropical realm|Neotropical]]:
* ''[[Microdon bertonii]]'' <small>[[Mario Bezzi|Bezzi]], 1910</small>
* ''[[Microdon bertonii]]'' <small>[[Mario Bezzi|Bezzi]], 1910</small>
:= ''Microdon arcuata'' <small>[[Charles Howard Curran|Curran]], 1941</small>
:= ''Microdon arcuata'' <small>[[Charles Howard Curran|Curran]], 1941</small>
Line 229: Line 227:


====Unplaced species====
====Unplaced species====
Afrotropical:
[[Afrotropical realm|Afrotropical]]

*''[[Microdon harinhalai]]'' <small>(Reemer, 2015)</small> <ref name=reemer15>{{cite journal |last=Reemer |first=Menno |year=2015 |title=Six new species of Microdon Meigen from Madagascar |journal=Zootaxa |volume= 4034 |issue=1 |pages=127–147 |doi=10.11646/zootaxa.4034.1.6 |pmid=26624434 |s2cid=44650485 |url=https://antwiki.org/wiki/images/1/11/Reemer_Bot_2015_Microdon_Madagascar.pdf }}</ref>
*''[[Microdon berobak]]'' <small>(Reemer, 2015)</small> <ref name=reemer15/>
*''[[Microdon ifanadiana]]'' <small>(Reemer, 2015)</small> <ref name=reemer15/>
*''[[Microdon irwini]]'' <small>(Reemer, 2015)</small> <ref name=reemer15/>
*''[[Microdon janne]]'' <small>(Reemer, 2015)</small> <ref name=reemer15/>
*''[[Microdon sava]]'' <small>(Reemer, 2015)</small> <ref name=reemer15/>
* ''[[Microdon tsara]]'' <small>Keiser, 1971</small>
* ''[[Microdon tsara]]'' <small>Keiser, 1971</small>


Australian / Oceanian:
[[Australasian realm|Australian]] / [[Oceanian realm|Oceanian]]:
* ''[[Microdon amabilis]]'' <small>[[Eustace William Ferguson|Ferguson]], 1926</small>
* ''[[Microdon amabilis]]'' <small>[[Eustace William Ferguson|Ferguson]], 1926</small>
* ''[[Microdon macquariensis]]'' <small>[[Eustace William Ferguson|Ferguson]], 1926</small>
* ''[[Microdon macquariensis]]'' <small>[[Eustace William Ferguson|Ferguson]], 1926</small>

Latest revision as of 16:35, 12 December 2023

This article is about the fly genus. For other species with "microdon" in their species name, see Microdon (disambiguation).

Microdon
Microdon mutabilis
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Diptera
Family: Syrphidae
Subfamily: Microdontinae
Genus: Microdon
Meigen, 1803
Type species
Musca mutabilis
Subgenera and species groups[1]
Synonyms[1]
Microdon eggeri, larva, third instar

Hover flies (family Syrphidae) of the genus Microdon are unusual among the Diptera. Like other members of the subfamily, they are myrmecophiles, meaning they inhabit the nests of ants.

There are 249 species known worldwide, with the greatest diversity being from the tropics; 30 species are known from North America, though it is expected that many of these species will be placed in other genera in time, as Microdon has been used as a catch-all for various unrelated species not placed in other genera.[2][3][needs update]

Appearance[edit]

Microdon adults look more or less like typical flies. Like some other hoverflies, they are generally robust and very hairy, often closely resembling bees. They are between 8 and 15 mm long. The antennae are rather long, with the last (third) segment nearly as long as, or sometimes significantly longer than, the first segment; the antennae are nearly as long as the fly's face. These flies are covered in black or pale (white or golden) hairs, and are themselves either black or metallic green or blue. The scutellum is with apical calcars and wing vein R4+5 with an appendix. They have simple legs and abdomens.[2]

The real oddity of the genus Microdon is in its larvae and pupae. These are dome-shaped and look like stout little slugs. Their appearance originally led scientists to describe them as mollusks and scale insects.[4] They are slow-moving. Most have the spiracles on a peg-like protuberance extending from the end of their abdomens.

Behaviour[edit]

Adult Microdon flies do not behave like other syrphid flies; they do not hover around flowers, but instead remain very near the ant colonies which serve as larval hosts.

Larvae may be found very deep in ant colonies. Some species actively feed on ant larvae in the colony,[4] others are speculated to be scavengers.[5] Microdon larvae are more or less restricted in their ant host species. Some Microdon species have only ever been found in the colonies of a single ant species, while others are restricted to related ant species or genera. Because these flies have such cryptic life cycles, biological information on most species is limited.

Species[edit]

Microdon is divided into six subgenera (including Microdon sensu stricto), plus five species groups and some unplaced species in Microdon sensu lato.[1]

Subgenus Chymophila[edit]

Main article: Chymophila

Nearctic:

Neotropical:

Oriental:

Palaearctic:

Subgenus Dimeraspis[edit]

Main article: Dimeraspis

Subgenus Megodon[edit]

Main article: Megodon

Subgenus Microdon sensu stricto[edit]

Nearctic:

Neotropical:

Oriental:

Palaearctic:

Subgenus Myiacerapis[edit]

Main article: Myiacerapis

Myiacerapis is a subgenus of the hoverfly genus Microdon. It contains only one species, Microdon villosus.[1][2] It is native to Uganda, though an undescribed species is known from South Africa.[1] Larvae are found in ant nests.

Subgenus Syrphipogon[edit]

Main article: Syrphipogon

There are two species described in Syrphipogon:[1]

Microdon sensu lato species groups[edit]

craigheadii-group[edit]

Nearctic:

erythros-group[edit]

Afrotropical:

= Microdon erytherus Bezzi, 1921 (misspelling)

mirabilis-group[edit]

Neotropical:

= Microdon arcuata Curran, 1941

tarsalis-group[edit]

Afrotropical:

= Microdon bequaerti Curran, 1929

Unplaced species[edit]

Afrotropical

Australian / Oceanian:

= Microdon pictulipennis Hull, 1944

Oriental:


References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Reemer, Menno; Ståhls, Gunilla (2013). "Generic revision and species classification of the Microdontinae (Diptera, Syrphidae)". ZooKeys (288): 1–213. doi:10.3897/zookeys.288.4095. PMC 3690914. PMID 23798897.
  2. ^ a b c Cheng, Xin-Yue; Thompson, F. Christian (2008). "A generic conspectus of the Microdontinae (Diptera: Syrphidae) with the description of two new genera from Africa and China" (PDF). Zootaxa. 1879. New Zealand: Magnolia Press: 21–48. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.1879.1.3. ISSN 1175-5334. Retrieved 2009-09-11.
  3. ^ a b Thompson, F.C (1981). "Revisionary notes on Nearctic Microdon flies (Diptera: Syrphidae)". Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington. 83. Washington D.C.: Allen Press: 725–758. ISSN 0013-8797.
  4. ^ a b Duffield, R.M (1981). "Biology of Microdon fuscipennis (Diptera: Syrphidae) with interpretation of reproductive strategies of Microdon species found north of Mexico". Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington. 83. Washington D.C.: Allen Press: 716–724. ISSN 0013-8797.
  5. ^ Donisthorpe, H. St. J. (1927). The guests of British ants : their habits and life-histories. London: Routledge. p. 244.
  6. ^ a b Reemer, Menno (2014). "A review of Microdontinae (Diptera: Syrphidae) of Surinam, with a key to the Neotropical genera". Tijdschrift voor Entomologie. 157 (1): 27–57. doi:10.1163/22119434-00002035.
  7. ^ Maruyama, Munetoshi; Hironaga, Teruhiko (December 22, 2004). "Microdon katsurai, a New Species of Myrmecophilous Hoverfly (Diptera, Syrphidae) from Japan, Associated with Polyrhachis lamellidens (Hymenoptera, Formicidae)" (PDF). Bulletin of the National Science Museum. A. 30 (4). Tokyo: National Science Museum, Tokyo: 173–179.[permanent dead link]
  8. ^ a b Thompson, F.C (1981). "Revisionary notes on Nearctic Microdon flies (Diptera: Syrphidae)". Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington. 83: 725–758.
  9. ^ Fabricius, Johann Christian (1805). Systema antliatorum : secundum ordines, genera, species, adiectis synonymis, locis, observationibus, descriptionibus. Brunsvigae. p. 372.?
  10. ^ Bigot, Jacques-Marie-Frangile (1884). "Diptères nouveaux ou peu connus. 22e partie, XXXII: Syrphidi (2e partie). espèces nouvelles, No 1er". Annales de la Société Entomologique de France. 3 (6): 315–356. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
  11. ^ Knab, F. (1917). "On some North American species of Microdon (Diptera: Syrphidae)". Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington. 30: 133–143.
  12. ^ Tian, Jing; Huo, Ke-Ke; Zhang, Chun-Tian; Ren, Bing-Zhong (2019). "Microdon dentigiganteum sp. nov. and other Microdontinae species (Diptera: Syrphidae) from Northeast China". Zootaxa. 4712 (1): 65–76. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.4712.1.4. PMID 32230696. S2CID 212755775.
  13. ^ a b c d e f Reemer, Menno (2015). "Six new species of Microdon Meigen from Madagascar" (PDF). Zootaxa. 4034 (1): 127–147. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.4034.1.6. PMID 26624434. S2CID 44650485.
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