Melangyna viridiceps

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Melangyna viridiceps

Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Diptera
Family: Syrphidae
Genus: Melangyna
Species: M. viridiceps
Binomial name
Melangyna viridiceps
(Macquart, 1847) [1]

Melangyna viridiceps is an Australasian hoverfly, known in Australia as the common hover fly [2]. It is found across Eastern Australia, as well as on the Kermadec Islands of New Zealand [3], and is one of the two most common hoverflies in Australia, alongside Symosyrphus grandicornis [4]. The adult flies feed on pollen and nectar which they gather from flowers, while the larvae feed on aphids [5].

A pair of M. viridiceps, mating in flight
A pair of M. viridiceps, mating in flight


[edit] References

  1. ^ Rudolf Meier et al. (2005-05-17). Collection inventory of the Diptera collection: Syrphidae. Zoological Museum, University of Copenhagen (ZMUC).
  2. ^ Common hover fly Melangyna viridiceps. CSIRO (2004-09-18).
  3. ^ R. P. Macfarlane, I. G. Andrew, B. J. Sinclair et al. (2000-03-03). Checklist of New Zealand Diptera. New Zealand Entomological Society.
  4. ^ E. Soleyman-Nezhadiyan & R. Laughlin (1998). Voracity of larvae, rate of development in eggs, larvae and pupae, and flight seasons of adults of the hoverflies Melangyna viridiceps Macquart and Symosyrphus grundicornis Macquart (Diptera: Syrphidae). Australian Journal of Entomology 37 (3): 243–248. doi:10.1111/j.1440-6055.1998.tb01578.x. 
  5. ^ Common hover fly — Melangyna viridiceps. Brisbane Insects and Spiders Home Page (2004-12-22).


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