Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
A. exotica: described by Wiedemann in 1830; originally placed in Syrphus
A. micrura: described by Osten Sacken in 1877; originally placed in Sphaerophoria
A. obliqua: described by Say in 1823; originally placed in Scaeva
A. radiata: described by Bigot in 1857; originally placed in Syrphus
Explanation of Names
Greek allos (αλλος)- "other, different" + graptos (γραπτος)- painted, marked with letters, written"
Numbers
Nomina Nearctica lists 4 species in North America
Identification
fourth abdominal tergite with two pale oblique stripes in exotica and obliqua, but completely dark in micrura
(see drawings of female
exotica and male
obliqua abdomens on page 24 of
this PDF doc, and photos of
micrura on
this page)
male obliqua has pale crescent-shaped band on third abdominal tergite, whereas in female exotica the band is only slightly curved, and is flattened along its base
no images of A. radiata were found on the Internet
Range
A. exotica: mostly southern -- Oregon to North Carolina, south to Argentina (and introduced to Hawaii)
A. micrura: west only -- British Columbia to California and Texas, into Mexico
A. obliqua: widespread -- Washington state to Quebec, south to Argentina (and introduced to Hawaii)
A. radiata: far southeast -- Florida and the West Indies (and introduced to Hawaii)
[the above 4 links are from The Diptera Site, USDA]
Print References
Salsbury, p. 403--photo of
Allograpta obliqua (1)Internet References
drawings comparing abdomens of exotica and obliqua; PDF doc on last page [24] (C.L. Fluke, 1942, Revision of the Neotropical Syrphini related to
Syrphus, American Museum of Natural History)
pinned adult images of
A. micrura (Harvard U., Connecticut)
illustrated species account of
A. obliqua (H.V. Weems, U. of Florida)
pinned adult image of
A. obliqua (Insects of Cedar Creek, Minnesota)
North Carolina State Entomology just has
A. obliqua in the collection, with 59 pinned, including North Carolina specimens
