Genus Eumerus

Classification · Numbers · Identification · Habitat · Life Cycle · Remarks

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Diptera (Flies)

No Taxon (Aschiza)

Family Syrphidae (Syrphid Flies)

Subfamily Eristalinae

Either blackish flies with silvery spots on the tergites or reddish flies with blackish thorax. Femur 3 is swollen. The head bears no facial projection and the mouth edge is only slightly projected.

Habitat

Most are thermophilous and can be found in grasslands and at the borders of woods and bushes, often near the larval foodplants.

Life Cycle

The larvae mine in bulbs (e.g. Allium) and are considered to be pests in commercial bulb cultures.

Remarks

Most species fly quickly near the surface, which makes them difficult to spot.

Three species have been introduced from Europe.

Contributed by john and jane balaban on 21 February, 2005 - 3:07pm
Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset
Last updated 10 January, 2008 - 7:08am

Disclaimer: Dedicated naturalists volunteer their time and resources here to provide this service. We strive to provide accurate information, but we are mostly just amateurs attempting to make sense of a diverse natural world. If you need expert professional advice, contact your local extension office.

Contributors own the copyright to and are solely responsible for contributed content.
Click the contributor's name for licensing and usage information.
Everything else copyright © 2003-2008 Iowa State University, unless otherwise noted.

Bugguide is hosted by Iowa State University Entomology.

Printer Friendly Version