The subfamily Microdontinae contains slightly more than 400 species of

hoverflies 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, whi ...

(family Syrphidae) and, while diverse, these species share several characteristics by which they differ from other syrphids. The Microdontinae are myrmecophiles, meaning they live in the nests of ants.

Larva A larva (; plural larvae ) is a distinct juvenile form many animals undergo before metamorphosis into adults. Animals with indirect development such as insects, amphibians, or cnidarians typically have a larval phase of their life cycle. Th ...

l Microdontinae are scavengers or predators in ant nests, and, in contrast to other syrphid larvae, have no readily apparent body segmentation. Some species also do not exhibit the typical adult flower-visiting behaviour of other hoverflies, but instead remain near their larval host colonies (some of these species have no functional mouthparts and cannot feed as adults). A number of genera (e.g. ''Masarygus'', ''Paragodon'', ''Schizoceratomyia'' and ''Surimyia'') lack the "spurious vein" which is characteristic of all other Syrphidae. For other distinguishing characteristics, see Thompson (1969).

Genera

A revised list of the genera in Microdontinae was carried out by Reemer & Ståhls (2013): *'' Afromicrodon'' Thompson, 2008 *'' Archimicrodon'' Hull, 1945 **''Archimicrodon'' Hull, 1945 **''

Hovamicrodon ''Hovamicrodon'' is a subgenus of the hoverfly genus ''Archimicrodon'', endemic to Madagascar. ''Hovamicrodon'' is distinguished by a particular type of scutellar calcar, being broad and blunt apically. Species The six known species are: * ...

'' Keiser, 1971 *'' Aristosyrphus''

Curran Curran may refer to: People * Curran (surname) * Curran Oi (born 1990), an American figure skater Material * Curran (material) Places *Curran, community in Alfred and Plantagenet, Ontario, Canada ;Northern Ireland * Curran, County Londonderry ...

, 1941 **''Aristosyrphus''

, 1941 **''Eurypterosyrphus'' Barretto & Lane, 1947 *'' Bardistopus'' Mann, 1920 *'' Carreramyia'' Doesburg, 1966 *'' Ceratophya''

Wiedemann Wiedemann is a German surname. Notable people with the surname include: *Barbara Wiedemann (born 1945), American poet * Christian Rudolph Wilhelm Wiedemann (1770–1840), German physician, historian, naturalist *Elisabeth Wiedemann (1926-2015), Ger ...

, 1824 *'' Ceratrichomyia'' Séguy, 1951 *'' Ceriomicrodon'' Hull, 1937 *'' Cervicorniphora'' Hull, 1945 *'' Chrysidimyia'' Hull, 1937 *'' Domodon'' Reemer, 2013 *'' Furcantenna'' Cheng, 2008 *''

Heliodon A heliodon (HEE-leo-don) is a device for adjusting the angle between a flat surface and a beam of light to match the angle between a horizontal plane at a specific latitude and the solar beam. Heliodons are used primarily by architects and student ...

'' Reemer, 2013 *'' Hypselosyrphus'' Hull, 1937 *'' Indascia'' Keiser, 1958 *'' Kryptopyga'' Hull, 1944 *'' Laetodon'' Reemer, 2013 *'' Masarygus'' Bréthes, 1909 *'' Menidon'' Reemer, 2013 *'' Mermerizon'' Reemer, 2013 *'' Metadon'' Reemer, 2013 *'' Microdon'' Meigen, 1803 **''

Chymophila ''Chymophila'' is a subgenus of the hoverfly genus ''Microdon''. It was previously considered to be exclusively Neotropical, but is now also known from the Nearctic and Oriental realms, and one species is known from Japan. ''Chymophila'' was base ...

'' Macquart, 1834 **'' Dimeraspis'' Newman, 1838 **''

Megodon ''Megodon'' is a subgenus of the hoverfly genus ''Microdon''. It is native to Madagascar, and contains only two known species. ''Microdon stuckenbergi'' has an unusual scutellum. Larvae are found in ant Ants are eusocial insects of the fam ...

'' Keiser, 1971 **''Microdon'' Meigen, 1803 **''

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

'' Hull, 1949 **'' Syrphipogon'' Hull, 1937 *''

Mixogaster ''Mixogaster'' is a genus of hoverfly, hoverflies native to North America and South America, with 21 known species. ''Mixogaster'' is distinct by lacking an appendix on vein R4+5, having a reduced and bare metasternum, an unarmed Scutellum (insec ...

'' Macquart, 1842 *''

Oligeriops ''Oligeriops'' is a genus of hoverfly from 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 ...

'' Hull, 1937 *''

Omegasyrphus ''Omegasyrphus'' is a genus of hoverflies, with five known species. These are small Microdontinae flies with a distinctive abdominal shape; the second segment is widened, flattened, and flared, with its lateral margin subcircular, thickened, and ...

Giglio-Tos Ermanno Giglio-Tos (25 March 1865 – 18 August 1926) was an Italian entomologist. Giglio-Tos was born at Chiaverano, Turin, and studied at the University of Turin from 1886 until 1896 under Michele Lessona. Later he was a professor at the Uni ...

, 1891 *'' Paragodon'' Thompson, 1969 *'' Paramicrodon''

de Meijere Johannes Cornelis Hendrik de Meijere (1 April 1866, Deventer – 6 November 1947) was a Dutch zoologist and entomologist who specialised in Diptera and Coleoptera. Prof. dr. Johannes Cornelis Hendrik de Meijere was Rector Magnificus at the U ...

, 1913 *'' Paramixogaster'' Brunetti, 1923 *''

Parocyptamus ''Parocyptamus'' is a genus of hoverflies, with two known species. The critical characteristic is the narrow, elongated abdomen. Biology Larvae are found in ant nests. Distribution They are native to parts of Asia. Species *'' P. sonamii'' Sh ...

'' Shiraki, 1930 *''

Peradon ''Peradon'' is a genus of hoverfly from the Neotropical realm, containing 31 species. Many of the species were originally described in the genus ''Microdon''. Species Species in ''Peradon'' include: * ''Peradon angustiventris'' (Pierre-Justin-M ...

'' Reemer, 2013 *'' Piruwa'' Reemer, 2013 *''

Pseudomicrodon ''Pseudomicrodon'' is a genus of hoverfly, hoverflies, with 14 known species. All are species with Petiole (botany), petiolate abdomens. Biology Larvae are found in ant nests. Distribution They are native to the New World tropics. Species Speci ...

'' Hull, 1937 *''

Ptilobactrum ''Ptilobactrum'' is a genus of hoverflies, with one known species, ''Ptilobactrum neavei''. They have very broad heads and their basoflagellomeres are elongate and densely pilose Trichomes (); ) are fine outgrowths or appendages on plant ...

Bezzi Bezzi is an Italian last name. Notable people with this last name include: *Bartolomeo Bezzi (1851–1923), Italian painter *Cristian Bezzi (born 1975), Italian former rugby union player *Giovanni Francesco Bezzi (active circa 1549–1571), ...

, 1915 *''

Rhoga ''Rhoga'' is a genus of hoverfly, hoverflies, with five known species. All are small, delicate, pale yellowish flies, with distinct black pilose brushes on their metatibiae. These flies are probably mimics of stingless bees of the tribe Melipon ...

Walker Walker or The Walker may refer to: People *Walker (given name) *Walker (surname) *Walker (Brazilian footballer) (born 1982), Brazilian footballer Places In the United States *Walker, Arizona, in Yavapai County *Walker, Mono County, California * ...

, 1857 *''

Rhopalosyrphus ''Rhopalosyrphus'' is a genus of hoverflies, with nine known species. The adults flies mimic wasps, such as '' Zethus''. The larvae are predators of ant brood. They are native to from southern United States to northern Argentina. Species Sensu st ...

, 1891 *''

Schizoceratomyia ''Schizoceratomyia'' is a genus of hoverflies, with four known species. Larva A larva (; plural larvae ) is a distinct juvenile form many animals undergo before metamorphosis into adults. Animals with indirect development such as insects, ...

'' Carrera, Lopes & Lane, 1947 *'' Serichlamys''

, 1925 *''

Spheginobaccha ''Spheginobaccha'' is a genus of hoverflies, with 15 known species. The genus is readily separated from other microdons by the incomplete metathoracic bridge, round/oval basoflagellomere, occiput with a dorsolateral crease, and other characters. ...

, 1908 *'' Stipomorpha'' Hull, 1945 *'' Sulcodon'' Reemer, 2013 *'' Surimyia'' Reemer, 2008 *'' Thompsodon'' Reemer, 2013 *''

Ubristes ''Ubristes'' is a genus of hoverfly, hoverflies, with four known species. All are characterized by their metatibiae, which are usually enlarged, but always with a brush of long pile along the dorsal edges. These flies are probably mimics of the st ...

, 1852

References

External links

* {{Taxonbar, from=Q1950647 Myrmecology Taxa named by Camillo Rondani Brachycera subfamilies

Genera

References

Further reading

External links