''Sphegina abbreviata'' is a

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...

hoverfly Hover flies, also called flower flies or syrphid flies, make up the insect family Syrphidae. As their common name suggests, they are often seen hovering or nectaring at flowers; the adults of many species feed mainly on nectar and pollen, while ...

in the

family Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...

Syrphidae found in Nepal. Like other species in its genus, ''S. abbreviata'' is small, slender, and usually found in and around woodlands. It's similar to '' S. angustata'', though it's differentiated by having both dorsal and ventral sublobes posteriorly on male superior lobe instead of just a dorsal one, and by having the dorsal sublobes be apically short and truncate instead of long and pointed.

Etymology

The name comes from Latin ‘abbreviata’, meaning ‘shortened’, referring to the unusually short abdomen.

Description

In male specimens, ''S. abbreviata'' has a body length of 4.6 millimeters and wing length of 4.7 millimeters. The occiput is brown; gena and mouth edge yellow; antennae dark brown, with black setae dorsally on scape and

pedicel Pedicle or pedicel may refer to: Human anatomy *Pedicle of vertebral arch, the segment between the transverse process and the vertebral body, and is often used as a radiographic marker and entry point in vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty procedures ...

; thorax dark brown; scutellum dark brown and subtriangular; metafemur dark brown with basal ⅓ yellow, very weakly incrassate; metatibia dark brown and yellow biannulate. A subtriangular area posterior of the lunula is non-pollinose and shiny. The wings are glossy and translucent, covered entirely in small hairs, and have yellowish stigma. The

arista Arista may refer to: Organizations *Arista Networks, a software defined networking company *Arista Records, an American record label, division of Sony Music **Arista Nashville, a record label specializing in country music *Arista (honor society) ...

is short and relatively thick, covered in long, soft hairs, about 2.0 to 2.5 times as long as the basal flagellomere. Female specimens are much the same except for normal

sexual dimorphism Sexual dimorphism is the condition where the sexes of the same animal and/or plant species exhibit different morphological characteristics, particularly characteristics not directly involved in reproduction. The condition occurs in most ani ...

; they have a body length of 4.9 to 5.4 millimetres and wing length of 5.4 to 6.1 millimetres. The metafemur is brown with basal ½ yellow, slender, and evenly incrassate. The arista is short and relatively thick, covered in long, soft hairs, about three times as long as the basal flagellomere.

References

Brachyopini Insects described in 2018 Diptera of Asia {{Brachyopini-stub