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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Flies (Diptera) » Aschiza » Syrphid Flies (Syrphidae) » Eristalinae » Eristalini » Meromacrus » Meromacrus acutus
Photo#17336
Meromacrus acutus
Copyright © 2005 Brian E Womble

Meromacrus acutus
Naples (Golden Gate Estates), Collier County, Florida, USA
May 13, 2005
Size: Approx. 1.5-2 cm
We live in a subtropical hardwood hammock in rural southwest Florida, near the western border of The Everglades. This photo was taken at the northern edge of the property, near our compost bin. The specimen repeatedly landed on (and took off from) some composting sunflower stems.

Images of this individual: tag all
Meromacrus acutus Meromacrus acutus
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Contributed by Brian E Womble on 14 May, 2005 - 9:38pm
Last updated 16 August, 2007 - 2:49pm

Will move to guide...
I'm going to go ahead and move to the guide for Meromacrus acutus. The identification seems pretty firm.

Patrick Coin
Durham, North Carolina
… Cotinis, 1 February, 2006 - 10:33am login or register to post comments

Aha! Not Milesia, Meromacrus
This would appear to be Meromacrus, likely M acuta. See comments under this image:



Arnett, (1) lists M. acuta as widespread in the southeast. I'm satisfied enough to move it to a guide for that species, if OK with you.

Patrick Coin
Durham, North Carolina
… Cotinis, 31 January, 2006 - 10:13pm login or register to post comments

Neat, compare inidividual from NC
Maybe you can help solve The Milesia Mystery. There are, as far as I can tell, supposed to be two species in the east: M. virginiensis and M. scutellata. The first is yellow, resembling a yellowjacket. M. scutellata I've seen only one photograph of (plus a description in a key), and the pattern is quite different from M. virginiensis.

Your specimen resembles the couple of dark Milesia I've seen here in North Carolina:



I've speculated about what it could be here:



Your specimen really has a tapered abdomen, indicative of a male? Perhaps male M. virginiensis are much darker than females. If you see the bright yellowjacket mimics in your area, perhaps you can post photos.

Patrick Coin
Durham, North Carolina
… Cotinis, 15 May, 2005 - 6:32am login or register to post comments

Nice shots Brian!
I love Florida critters, this is a beautifully marked syrphid. Nice shots!
… Tony DiTerlizzi, 14 May, 2005 - 9:43pm login or register to post comments

 
Thank you both. I'll be putt
Thank you both. I'll be putting a LOT more images up as opportunity allows. I'll keep my eyes open for more of these, and will photograph all I can to help get to the bottom of the great "Markings Mystery".

:)
… Brian E Womble, 15 May, 2005 - 2:33pm login or register to post comments

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