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Species Toxomerus marginatus

Toxomerus marginatus ? - Toxomerus marginatus - female Toxomerus marginatus - female Toxomerus marginatus? - Toxomerus marginatus - male Milesiini? - Toxomerus marginatus - male Shortage of black on my Toxomerus - Toxomerus marginatus - male Syrphid Fly - Toxomerus marginatus - male Toxomerus - Toxomerus marginatus - male - female Hoverflies - Toxomerus marginatus - male - female
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Diptera (Flies)
No Taxon ("Aschiza")
Family Syrphidae (Hover Flies)
Subfamily Syrphinae
Tribe Syrphini
Genus Toxomerus
Species marginatus (Toxomerus marginatus)
Other Common Names
Margined Calligrapher(1)
Explanation of Names
Toxomerus marginatus (Say 1823)
Size
5-6 mm
Identification
larva shown in(2), fig. 33
Range
across Canada to C. America(3)
Habitat
Adults found in diverse habitats -- forests, fields, meadows, savannas, prairies, marshes, bog, fens, deserts, stream margins, and alpine areas. They are highly adaptable and can occur in very disturbed habitats(1)
Food
Larvae prey on aphids, thrips, small caterpillars
Life Cycle
This larva pupated less than 24 hours after photo:


This image was taken within 24 hours of pupation:


Another puparium, shortly before emergence of adult:


When the pupa is exposed to heat, the adults look very pale and orange. If they develop under cold conditions, they turn much darker, sometimes nearly completely black. (Comment by Martin Hauser)
Remarks
very common; larvae prey on many plant pests
Males have holoptic eyes
Works Cited
1.Field Guide to the Flower Flies of Northeastern North America
Jeffrey H. Skevington and Michelle M. Locke, Andrew D. Young, Kevin Moran, William J. Crins and Stephen A. Marshall. 2019. Princeton University Press.
2.Flower Flies (Syrphidae) and other biological control agents for aphids in vegetable crops
R. Bugg et al. 2008. UC ANR Publication 8285.
3.Thompson F.C., Pape T., Evenhuis N.L. (2013) Systema Dipterorum, Version 1.5