Eristalis dimidiata

Eristalis dimidiata
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Diptera
Family: Syrphidae
Genus: Eristalis
Species:
E. dimidiata
Binomial name
Eristalis dimidiata
(Wiedemann, 1830)
Synonyms[1]
  • Eristalis chalybaeus Macquart, 1842
  • Eristalis chalybeus Macquart, 1842
  • Eristalis dimidiatus Wiedemann, 1830
  • Eristalis haesitans Walker, 1849
  • Eristalis incisuralis Macquart, 1850
  • Eristalis inflexus Walker, 1849
  • Eristalis lherminierii Macquart, 1842
  • Eristalis niger Macquart, 1834

Eristalis dimidiata, the black-shouldered drone fly, is a species of hoverfly native to much of Canada and the eastern and northern United States.[1][2][3][4][5] It flies year-round in southern areas and from late March to mid-November further north.[5] It is one of the earliest hoverflies to fly in the spring, and as such likely overwinters as an adult.[5] It lives primarily in forests.[5]

Hoverflies get their names from the ability to remain nearly motionless while in flight. The adults are also known as flower flies as they are commonly found on and around flowers, from which they get both energy-giving nectar and protein-rich pollen. The larvae are aquatic filter-feeders of the rat-tailed type.[4][6]

Female
  1. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference itis was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference catlife was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference gbif was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference bugref was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ a b c d Cite error: The named reference Skevington was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Williston, S.W. (1887). "Synopsis of the North American Syrphidae". Bulletin of the United States National Museum. 31: 1–335.