Chrysotoxum | |
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Female Chrysotoxum arcuatum | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Diptera |
Family: | Syrphidae |
Tribe: | Syrphini |
Genus: | Chrysotoxum Meigen, 1803 |
The genus Chrysotoxum (Meigen, 1803) consists of large, wasp-mimicking species. The adults are distinguished by very long antennae, oval abdomen with yellow stripes, and yellow patterns on the thoracic pleurae (sides of the thorax). The species of Chrysotoxum are chiefly Holarctic in distribution. . The species in this genus, are mostly very uniform in structure and colour and are separated with difficulty.[1] Larvae are specialized in preying upon root aphids associated with ant nests.[2][3]