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Microdon
Photo#52729
Copyright © 2006
Bill DuPree
fly -
Microdon
Atlanta, Fulton County, Georgia, USA
May 17, 2006
Size: ~10 mm
Images of this individual:
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Contributed by
Bill DuPree
on 18 May, 2006 - 4:50pm
Last updated 24 May, 2006 - 6:07pm
Microdon
Yes it is claerly a Microdon. The larvae of these beautiful flies look like snails (and have been described as snails in the past) and live in ant nests where they eat ant larvae and eggs. I can not give a species ID, I always have problems with identifying the species of this genus.
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Martin Hauser
, 18 May, 2006 - 6:39pm
Microdon
Thanks for the ID and the interesting information.
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Bill DuPree
, 18 May, 2006 - 7:51pm
Lovely
Not sure this isn't a very fine looking Syrphid in the genus Microdon. Can't be absolutely sure. This is a large genus in the east but the adults are not seen that often because they don't fly far from their ant nest birth places. Facial, antenna and body structure are very similar to one I photographed last year. And that was the only adult I have ever seen.
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Herschel Raney
, 18 May, 2006 - 5:16pm
Thanks
This is the first and only I've seen too. I hope to see some more.
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Bill DuPree
, 18 May, 2006 - 7:50pm