Sericomyia carolinensis

Sericomyia carolinensis[1][2] (also called the Two-spotted Pond Fly), is a rare species in the family Syrphidae, found in the Southeastern part of the United States. It is distinguished by its all yellow face, single pair of small narrow yellow spots, and yellow pilose scutellum. Adults noted feeding on pear blossoms. The larval stage is unknown but is likely a "rat tailed" type larvae inhabiting nutrient rich waters, typical for the genus Sericomyia.[3][4]

Sericomyia carolinensis
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Diptera
Superfamily: Syrphoidea
Family: Syrphidae
Genus: Sericomyia
Species:
S. carolinensis
Binomial name
Sericomyia carolinensis
Metcalf, 1917
Synonyms

Cinxia carolinensis
Metcalf, 1917

Description

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For terms, see Morphology of Diptera.

Size: 10–11 millimetres (0.39–0.43 in)

Head: The frons is yellow-orange immediately above the antennae. There is a black spot above that, which is more grayish towards the eyes. The vertex is dark brown.[5][6] The face is completely yellow without a medial black stripe. The antennae are plumose. The eyes are bare and holoptic in males, but dichoptic in the females. The occiput has a silvery-white pollen-like covering.[6]

Thorax: The scutum and scutellum are dark brown with yellow pile.

 
general syrphid wing diagram

Wings: The wings are brown at the bases and at the front edge of the wing. The vein R4+5 slightly bent into cell r4+5.

 
Insect leg

Legs: All basitarsi are orange to reddish-brown. The hind femur is brown with a pale apical tip. Tibia paler brown and distinctly curved.

Abdomen: Shiny black with one pair of yellow stripes on second segment. Yellow pile on the margin of abdomen, longer at the anterior.

References

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  1. ^ "ITIS - Report: Sericomyia carolinensis". www.itis.gov. itis.gov. Retrieved 2021-11-28.
  2. ^ "Sericomyia carolinensis (Metcalf, 1917)". www.gbif.org. GBIF. Retrieved 2021-11-28.
  3. ^ Skevington, Jeffrey H (2019). Field Guide to the Flower Flies of Northeastern North America. ISBN 9780691189406.
  4. ^ "Two-spotted Pond Fly (Sericomyia carolinensis)". iNaturalist. Retrieved 2021-11-28.
  5. ^ "A, Sericomyia carolinensis male habitus, lateral (CNCD29611); B, S..."
  6. ^ a b * Skevington, J. H.; Thompson, F. C. (2012). "Review of New World Sericomyia (Diptera: Syrphidae), including description of a new species" (PDF). The Canadian Entomologist. 144 (2): 216–247. doi:10.4039/tce.2012.24. S2CID 85892509.
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