Melangyna viridiceps | |
---|---|
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Diptera |
Family: | Syrphidae |
Genus: | Melangyna |
Species: | M. viridiceps
|
Binomial name | |
Melangyna viridiceps |
Melangyna viridiceps is an Australian hoverfly, known as the common hover fly. [2]
It is one of the two most common hoverflies in Australia, alongside Simosyrphus grandicornis, [3] with which it has often been confused, [4] but can be distinguished by its all black thorax. [5]
The adult flies feed on pollen and nectar which they gather from flowers, while the larvae feed on aphids. [6]
It is found widely across Eastern Australia.
Some sources indicate that the species is also present in New Zealand, either on the Kermadec Islands only, [7] or on both the Kermadecs and the mainland. [8] Most recent sources, [9] however, do not record this species as being present outside of Australia. Miller's 1921 mention for the Kermadec was found to be a misidentification for Simosyrphus grandicornis, [4] and Macfarlane et al. [7] failed to cite specimens or published reports for their claim of the species' presence in the Kermadec.
Melangyna viridiceps | |
---|---|
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Diptera |
Family: | Syrphidae |
Genus: | Melangyna |
Species: | M. viridiceps
|
Binomial name | |
Melangyna viridiceps |
Melangyna viridiceps is an Australian hoverfly, known as the common hover fly. [2]
It is one of the two most common hoverflies in Australia, alongside Simosyrphus grandicornis, [3] with which it has often been confused, [4] but can be distinguished by its all black thorax. [5]
The adult flies feed on pollen and nectar which they gather from flowers, while the larvae feed on aphids. [6]
It is found widely across Eastern Australia.
Some sources indicate that the species is also present in New Zealand, either on the Kermadec Islands only, [7] or on both the Kermadecs and the mainland. [8] Most recent sources, [9] however, do not record this species as being present outside of Australia. Miller's 1921 mention for the Kermadec was found to be a misidentification for Simosyrphus grandicornis, [4] and Macfarlane et al. [7] failed to cite specimens or published reports for their claim of the species' presence in the Kermadec.