Variable Duskyface Fly

Melanostoma mellinum

"Melanostoma mellinum", is a very common species of hoverfly found in many parts of Britain, Europe, North Africa, Asia and North America. Little is known of its biology, However the larvae are suspected to be general predator of small insects in leaf litter.
Melanostoma mellinum The unusual green halteres (which are quite clear in this view) are a key trait of Melanostoma mellinum. For the non-entomologists (I had to look this up) the halteres are vestigial wings that act function as a gyroscope for diptera (flies) and Strepsiptera, which are parasites, mainly of other insects. Other flying insects - butterflies, moths, bees, wasps, grasshoppers, etc. generally have 2 sets of wings. Geotagged,Melanostoma mellinum,Spring,United States

Appearance

A small species, the wingspan range recorded is between 4.75 and 7 mm. Very similar to "Platycheirus" and other "Melanostoma" species but with close inspection of some finer details can be identified with certainty. Adult males closely resemble "Platycheirus clypeatus" but lack the flattening or broadening of the front legs characteristic of most "Platycheirus" males. Females resemble female "Melanostoma scalare" sharing similar triangular tergite markings but have a shiny, black frons which separates them from "M. scalare" and most "Platycheirus" species.
female hoverfly full of eggs Geotagged,Melanostoma mellinum,Summer,United States,Variable Duskyface Fly

Habitat

Preferred habitat include grasslands and moorlands including those in hilly and mountainous regions. Adults can be found feeding on the pollen of grasses and other wind-pollinated plants.

References:

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Taxonomy
KingdomAnimalia
DivisionArthropoda
ClassInsecta
OrderDiptera
FamilySyrphidae
GenusMelanostoma
SpeciesM. mellinum
Photographed in
United States of America