Eastern Calligrapher (Toxomerus geminatus)

Toxomerus geminatus Many native pollinating insects are not actually bees, and flies are often overlooked and underappreciated for their role in pollination . Hoverflies are included in this group of non-bee pollinators. As an added benefit, many hoverflies are bee mimics: in both appearance and behavior.

Physically, they have a distinctive black and yellow pattern on their abdomens, which mimics the markings of stinging bees. This type of mimicry is known as Batesian mimicry and occurs when one harmless organism (hoverfly) resembles a harmful organism (stinging bee) to gain protection from predation. Hoverflies can't sting, but their physical resemblance to bees helps to protect them from predators.

Behaviorally, hoverflies continue to mimic bees as they are also pollinators. Although they are not as efficient as bees - probably partly because hoverflies aren't as hairy as bees (hairs aid in pollination by helping capture pollen to then transfer to other flowers). Hoverflies take their mimicry very seriously and some even buzz like bees!

There has been a global decline of pollinator species. Most humans assume that pollination is a free and abundantly available ecological service. But, this anthropocentric outlook has put too much pressure on pollinators by both increasing their demand and removing their habitat. It is estimated that at least 75% of the fruits and vegetables that we consume require insect pollination. Without pollinators, crops would not grow and most fruits and vegetables would become scarce or else prohibitively expensive. Production of other products will also be influenced by pollinator declines - for example, clothing industries would be affected since cotton is an insect-pollinated crop. So, it's obvious to state that pollination is critical for the production of food and other products. Non-bee pollinators, such as hoverflies play a role in this important process.

Additionally, some hoverfly species are useful as biological control agents because their larvae snack on aphids. Since most hoverflies have predatory larvae, using them in biocontrol may help control aphid populations. Geotagged,Spring,Toxomerus,Toxomerus geminatus,United States,flower fly,hoverfly,syrphid fly

Appearance

Toxomerus geminatus is a small syrphid fly.

The compound eyes are reddish-brown. The back of the head is white. On the male the face is white and the compound eyes meet near the top of the face. On the female the eyes do not meet and there is a dark, broad, vertical stripe on the white face extending from between the eyes to the antennae. The antennae are yellow and short.

The large, middle section of the thorax (mesonotum) is covered by a shield-shaped exosceletal plate. The large, forward portion of the shield (scutum) is blackish-brown with faint, yellowish-brown, longitudinal stripes. It is hairless. The smaller, rearward part of the shield (scutellum) is similarly colored but has yellow hairs. The shield has a well-defined yellow margin.

The abdomen is yellow with black stripes.The tip of the abdomen is rounded in males, pointed in females.

The wings are clear.

Toxomerus geminatus This is a picture of a Toxomerus geminatus at Annapolis High School in Annapolis, Maryland. Eastern Calligrapher,Geotagged,Spring,Toxomerus geminatus,United States

Naming

Synonyms
Eumerus privernus
Scaeva geminatus
Syrphus interrogans
Toxomerus geminata
Toxomerus notatus

Eastern Calligrapher - Toxomerus geminatus Habitat: Garden Eastern Calligrapher,Geotagged,Summer,Toxomerus,Toxomerus geminatus,United States,diptera,flower fly,fly,syrphidae

Food

Larval Food: aphids, scales, thrips, and caterpilars of both butterflies and moths

Adult Food: pollen, nectar, and honeydew.

References:

Some text fragments are auto parsed from Wikipedia.

http://www.minnesotaseasons.com/Insects/syrphid_fly_%28Toxomerus_geminatus%29.html

Taxonomy
Kingdom	Animalia
Division	Arthropoda
Class	Insecta
Order	Diptera
Family	Syrphidae
Genus	Toxomerus
Species	T. geminatus

Photographed in
United States of America