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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Flies (Diptera) » Aschiza » Syrphid Flies (Syrphidae) » Eristalinae » Volucellini » Copestylum » Mexican Cactus Fly (Copestylum mexicanum)

Species Copestylum mexicanum - Mexican Cactus Fly

Classification · Other Common Names · Synonyms and other taxonomic changes · Food · Remarks · Internet References
Mexican Cactus Fly - Copestylum mexicanum Another mexicana - Copestylum mexicanum - male Hard Life (Mexican Cactus Fly) - Copestylum mexicanum Mexican Cactus Fly - Copestylum mexicanum copestylum mexicanum? - Copestylum mexicanum - male Copestylum mexicana - Copestylum mexicanum Mexican Cactus Fly on Manzanita - Copestylum mexicanum - male Mexican Cactus Fly - Copestylum mexicanum - female
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Diptera (Flies)
No Taxon (Aschiza)
Family Syrphidae (Syrphid Flies)
Subfamily Eristalinae
Tribe Volucellini
Genus Copestylum
Species mexicanum (Mexican Cactus Fly)
Other Common Names
Mexican Flower Fly
Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Older references may use the genus Volucella: Volucella mexicana, or Volucella nigra, now both considered invalid junior synonyms.(see ITIS reference)
Food
Larvae feed on rotting cactus. Adults feed on nectar from various flowers.
Remarks
Please note the correct spelling of specific epithet: Copestylum mexicanum (Macquart, 1842).
Internet References
The Joshua Tree National Park has some info.
Dave Pehling has a shot of V. mexicana at his Bug of the Month site.
ITIS Report
Contributed by Tony DiTerlizzi on 19 January, 2005 - 7:11pm
Additional contributions by Hartmut Wisch, Chuck Entz
Last updated 4 October, 2008 - 12:05am

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