''Episyrphus viridaureus'' is a species of
hoverfly.
Morphology
This hoverfly has orange yellow body with narrow dark bands at the abdomen. The upper side of the thorax covered with black metallic shield and the rest is covered with orange-yellow hair. Between the dark purple eyes is a metallic blue part at the forehead. Its size is up to 35 mm, typically 10–20 mm.
[http://bugguide.net/node/view/196]
The coloration of the abdomen is markedly temperature-dependent, with anterior and posterior bands thicker when
pupae were reared at 15° instead than 25°. Conversely, colour of antennae, marking on the lunule, extent of
microtrichia
Insect morphology is the study and description of the physical form of insects. The terminology used to describe insects is similar to that used for other arthropods due to their shared evolutionary history. Three physical features separate insec ...
on the alula, sternal markings and «the 'theme' of abdominal patterns» are independent from temperature.
Range
It occurs on the east coast of
Australia
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...
, where it is the most frequently collected ''Episyrphus'' species, from the
Iron Range in northern
Queensland up to south of
Sydney
Sydney ( ) is the capital city of the state of New South Wales, and the most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Sydney Harbour and extends about towards the Blue Mountain ...
; it also occurs in
Malaysia,
Indonesia and
New Caledonia
)
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, image_map = New Caledonia on the globe (small islands magnified) (Polynesia centered).svg
, map_alt = Location of New Caledonia
, map_caption = Location of New Caledonia
, mapsize = 290px
, subdivision_type = Sovereign st ...
and, according to
GBIF, also in
India and
southeast Asia.
Biology
''E. viridaureus'' lives comfortably in disturbed or suburban environments. Females lay eggs often on plants such as ''
Ageratum houstonianum
''Ageratum houstonianum'', commonly known as flossflower, bluemink, blueweed, pussy foot or Mexican paintbrush, is a cool-season annual plant often grown as bedding (horticulture), bedding in gardens.
Description
This herbaceous plant, herbaceou ...
'' and ''
Sonchus oleraceus''.
As for other ''Episyrphus'' species, larvae are aphid eaters; species often predated are ''
Brachybaudus helichrysi'', ''
Hypermyzus lactucae'', ''
Toxoptera citricidus'', ''
Aphis nerii
''Aphis nerii'' is an aphid of the Family (biology), family Aphididae. Its common names include oleander aphid, milkweed aphid, sweet pepper aphid, and nerium aphid.
Distribution
The oleander aphid is widespread in regions with tropical and Med ...
'' and ''
Aphis gossypii
''Aphis gossypii'' is a tiny insect, an aphid ("greenfly") in the superfamily Aphidoidea in the order Hemiptera. It is a true bug and sucks sap from plants. It is a widely distributed pest of a variety of agricultural crops in the families Cucu ...
''.
References
External links
*
Syrphini
Diptera of North America
Insects described in 1824
Taxa named by Christian Rudolph Wilhelm Wiedemann
{{Syrphidae-stub