Species Mallota albipilis

Classification · Synonyms and other taxonomic changes · Numbers · Size · Identification · Range · Habitat · Season · Food · Remarks · Internet References

taper-tailed flower fly - Mallota albipilis - female

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Diptera (Flies)

No Taxon (Aschiza)

Family Syrphidae (Syrphid Flies)

Subfamily Eristalinae

Tribe Eristalini

Genus Mallota

Species albipilis (Mallota albipilis)

Synonyms and other taxonomic changes

Mallota albipes

Numbers

rare, with spotty distribution

Size

body length 11-17 mm

Identification

eyes bare; front half of thorax and entire scutellum pale yellow pilose; rear half of thorax black pilose; abdomen entirely pilose - black below, and pale above; wings clear except for irregular dark blotch mid-way along costa

Range

central United States: (Minnesota to Illinois and Mississippi, west to New Mexico and Colorado); one disjunct record from New Brunswick

type specimen collected in New Mexico

Habitat

fields with flowers

Season

probably May to September; the single New Brunswick record was on 1 September

Food

adults feed on pollen of herbaceous plants; reported to visit Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca), Slender Mountain-Mint (Pycnanthemum tenuifolia), Water-Hemlock (Cicuta maculata) in Illinois

Remarks

Thanks to Martin Hauser for the identification of these images, and thanks to Jeff Skevington for verification against specimens in the Canadian National Collection in Ottawa.

Internet References

field markings and season with same photos as on BugGuide (Jeff Skevington et al, Field Guide to the Flower Flies of Ontario)

distribution and type locality (The Diptera Site, USDA)

listed as a flower visitor of: Common Milkweed, Slender Mountain-Mint, Water-Hemlock (John Hilty, Illinois)

Contributed by Robin McLeod on 1 November, 2005 - 10:56pm
Last updated 11 May, 2006 - 10:28pm

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