Microdon

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Genus of flies

title: "Microdon" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["hoverfly-genera", "microdontinae", "myrmecology", "taxa-named-by-johann-wilhelm-meigen", "brachycera-tribes"] description: "Genus of flies" topic_path: "science/biology" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microdon" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Genus of flies ::

::callout[type=note] the fly genus ::

| image = Microdon mutabilis.jpg | image_caption = Microdon mutabilis | taxon = Microdon | authority = Meigen, 1803 | type_species = Musca mutabilis | type_species_authority = Linnaeus, 1758 | subdivision_ranks = Subgenera and species groups | subdivision_ref = | subdivision =

  • Chymophila Macquart, 1834
  • Dimeraspis Newman, 1838
  • Megodon Keiser, 1971
  • Microdon sensu stricto
  • Myiacerapis Hull, 1949
  • Syrphipogon Hull, 1937
  • Microdon sensu lato
    • craigheadii-group
    • erythros-group
    • mirabilis-group
    • tarsalis-group
    • virgo-group
    • unplaced species | synonyms_ref = | synonyms =
  • Aphritis Latreille, 1804
  • Colacis Gistel, 1848
  • Scutelligera Spix, 1824
  • Parmula Heyden, 1825
  • Scutigerella Haas, 1924 ::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5b/Microdon_Eggeri_larvae_third_instar_(by_Maria_andries,_1912).jpg" caption="''[[Microdon eggeri]]'', larva, third instar"] ::

Hover flies (family Syrphidae) of the genus Microdon are unusual among the Diptera. Like other members of the subfamily, they are myrmecophiles, meaning they inhabit the nests of ants.

There are 249 species known worldwide, with the greatest diversity being from the tropics; 30 species are known from North America, though it is expected that many of these species will be placed in other genera in time, as Microdon has been used as a catch-all for various unrelated species not placed in other genera.

Appearance

Microdon adults look more or less like typical flies. Like some other hoverflies, they are generally robust and very hairy, often closely resembling bees. They are between 8 and 15 mm long. The antennae are rather long, with the last (third) segment nearly as long as, or sometimes significantly longer than, the first segment; the antennae are nearly as long as the fly's face. These flies are covered in black or pale (white or golden) hairs, and are themselves either black or metallic green or blue. The scutellum is with apical calcars and wing vein R4+5 with an appendix. They have simple legs and abdomens.

The real oddity of the genus Microdon is in its larvae and pupae. These are dome-shaped and look like stout little slugs. Their appearance originally led scientists to describe them as mollusks and scale insects. They are slow-moving. Most have the spiracles on a peg-like protuberance extending from the end of their abdomens.

Behaviour

Adult Microdon flies do not behave like other syrphid flies; they do not hover around flowers, but instead remain very near the ant colonies which serve as larval hosts.

Larvae may be found very deep in ant colonies. Some species actively feed on ant larvae in the colony, others are speculated to be scavengers. Microdon larvae are more or less restricted in their ant host species. Some Microdon species have only ever been found in the colonies of a single ant species, while others are restricted to related ant species or genera. Because these flies have such cryptic life cycles, biological information on most species is limited.

Species

Microdon is divided into six subgenera (including Microdon sensu stricto), plus five species groups and some unplaced species in Microdon sensu lato.

Subgenus ''Chymophila''

Main article: Chymophila

Nearctic:

Neotropical:

Oriental:

Subgenus ''Dimeraspis''

Main article: Dimeraspis

Subgenus ''Megodon''

Main article: Megodon

Subgenus ''Microdon'' ''sensu stricto''

Nearctic:

Palaearctic:

Subgenus ''Myiacerapis''

Main article: Myiacerapis

Myiacerapis is a subgenus of the hoverfly genus Microdon. It contains only one species, Microdon villosus. It is native to Uganda, though an undescribed species is known from South Africa. Larvae are found in ant nests.

Subgenus ''Syrphipogon''

Main article: Syrphipogon

There are two species described in Syrphipogon:

''Microdon'' ''sensu lato'' species groups

''craigheadii''-group

Nearctic:

''erythros''-group

Afrotropical:

''mirabilis''-group

Neotropical:

''tarsalis''-group

Afrotropical:

Unplaced species

Afrotropical

Australian / Oceanian:

Oriental:

References

References

  1. (2013). "Generic revision and species classification of the Microdontinae (Diptera, Syrphidae)". [[ZooKeys]].
  2. (2008). "A generic conspectus of the Microdontinae (Diptera: Syrphidae) with the description of two new genera from Africa and China". Magnolia Press.
  3. Thompson, F.C. (1981). "Revisionary notes on Nearctic ''Microdon'' flies (Diptera: Syrphidae)". Allen Press.
  4. Duffield, R.M. (1981). "Biology of ''Microdon fuscipennis'' (Diptera: Syrphidae) with interpretation of reproductive strategies of ''Microdon'' species found north of Mexico". Allen Press.
  5. Donisthorpe, H. St. J.. (1927). "The guests of British ants : their habits and life-histories". Routledge.
  6. (January 2018). ["''Microdon katsurai'', a New Species of Myrmecophilous Hoverfly (Diptera, Syrphidae) from Japan, Associated with ''Polyrhachis lamellidens'' (Hymenoptera, Formicidae)"](http://www.myrmecophile.net/maruyama/papers/kenran.pdf }}{{dead link). National Science Museum, Tokyo.
  7. Thompson, F.C. (1981). "Revisionary notes on Nearctic ''Microdon'' flies (Diptera: Syrphidae)". Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington.
  8. Fabricius, Johann Christian. (1805). "Systema antliatorum : secundum ordines, genera, species, adiectis synonymis, locis, observationibus, descriptionibus".
  9. (1884). "Diptères nouveaux ou peu connus. 22e partie, XXXII: Syrphidi (2e partie). espèces nouvelles, No 1er". Annales de la Société Entomologique de France.
  10. Knab, F.. (1917). "On some North American species of Microdon (Diptera: Syrphidae)". Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington.
  11. Reemer, Menno. (2014). "A review of Microdontinae (Diptera: Syrphidae) of Surinam, with a key to the Neotropical genera". Tijdschrift voor Entomologie.
  12. (2019). "''Microdon dentigiganteum'' sp. nov. and other Microdontinae species (Diptera: Syrphidae) from Northeast China". [[Zootaxa]].
  13. Reemer, Menno. (2015). "Six new species of Microdon Meigen from Madagascar". Zootaxa.
  14. (1983). "British Hoverflies: An Illustrated Identification Guide". British Entomological & Natural History Society.
  15. (1991). "Three new species of family Syrphidae (Diptera) from India.". Acta Zoologica Cracoviensia.
  16. Barkalov, A.V. "Syrphidae collection of Siberian Zoological Museum". the Institute of Animal Systematics and Ecology, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

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hoverfly-generamicrodontinaemyrmecologytaxa-named-by-johann-wilhelm-meigenbrachycera-tribes