Microdon analis/major

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods) ➔ Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods) ➔ Class Insecta (Insects) ➔ Order Diptera (True flies) ➔ Family Syrphidae (Hoverflies)

Microdon analis/major
Microdon analis/major, female, det. Menno Reemer
DE, Chemnitz, Zeisigwald; 2006-05-21 12:46:28
Image number: 720
female
DE, Chemnitz, Zeisigwald
2006-05-21 12:46:28
det. Menno Reemer
Microdon analis/major
Microdon analis/major, female
DE, Chemnitz, Zeisigwald; 2006-05-21 12:48:03
Image number: 721
female
DE, Chemnitz, Zeisigwald
2006-05-21 12:48:03
Microdon analis/major
Microdon analis/major, male
DE, Chemnitz, Zeisigwald; 2011-05-21 12:42:29
Image number: 4570
male
DE, Chemnitz, Zeisigwald
2011-05-21 12:42:29
Microdon analis/major
Microdon analis/major, male
DE, Chemnitz, Zeisigwald; 2011-05-21 12:43:46
Image number: 4571
male
DE, Chemnitz, Zeisigwald
2011-05-21 12:43:46
Microdon analis/major
Microdon analis/major, mating, conf. Menno Reemer
DE, Chemnitz, Hutholz; 2012-05-08 11:54:03
Image number: 5307
mating
DE, Chemnitz, Hutholz
2012-05-08 11:54:03
conf. Menno Reemer
Microdon analis/major
Microdon analis/major
DE, Chemnitz, Harthwald; 2022-06-05 14:19:55
Image number: 10817

DE, Chemnitz, Harthwald
2022-06-05 14:19:55
Microdon analis/major
Microdon analis/major
DE, Chemnitz, Harthwald; 2022-06-05 14:20:07
Image number: 10818

DE, Chemnitz, Harthwald
2022-06-05 14:20:07
Microdon analis/major
Microdon analis/major
DE, Chemnitz, Harthwald; 2022-06-05 14:20:42
Image number: 10819

DE, Chemnitz, Harthwald
2022-06-05 14:20:42
Microdon analis/major
Microdon analis/major
DE, Chemnitz, Harthwald; 2022-06-06 10:11:40
Image number: 10820

DE, Chemnitz, Harthwald
2022-06-06 10:11:40
Microdon analis/major
Microdon analis/major
DE, Chemnitz, Harthwald; 2022-06-06 10:12:17
Image number: 10821

DE, Chemnitz, Harthwald
2022-06-06 10:12:17
Microdon analis/major
Microdon analis/major, larva
DE, Chemnitz, Harthwald; 2019-09-20 13:50:09
Image number: 8978
larva
DE, Chemnitz, Harthwald
2019-09-20 13:50:09
Microdon analis/major
Microdon analis/major, larva
DE, Chemnitz, Harthwald; 2019-09-20 13:50:44
Image number: 8979
larva
DE, Chemnitz, Harthwald
2019-09-20 13:50:44
Microdon analis/major
Microdon analis/major, larva
DE, Chemnitz, Harthwald; 2019-09-20 13:51:28
Image number: 8980
larva
DE, Chemnitz, Harthwald
2019-09-20 13:51:28

Classification:

Microdon analis/major belongs to the subfamily Microdontinae, tribe Microdontini.

Distribution:

Palearctic.

Habitat:

Microdon analis: Preferred in deciduous and coniferous forests with overmature trees.
Microdon major: Both open grasslands in humid forests, as well as dry, sub-Mediterranean grasslands and scrubland.
Especially in places where ant nests can be found suited for the development of the Microdon larvae.

Description:

Body length 8 - 11 mm; 3rd antennal segment about twice as long as the 2nd.

Biology:

The larvae of the genus Microdon live in ant nests, where they feed on ant larvae, possibly also on eggs. A Microdon larva eats more than a hundred ant larvae until it pupates. The nocturnal Microdon larvae are on the prowl at night when the diurnal ant larvae are inactive. The larval stage lasts about 11 months. The pupation takes place near an exit of the ant nest.
Hosts of the larvae of Microdon analis and Microdon major are ants of the genera Lasius and Formica.

Annotation:

Microdon analis and Microdon major can only be distinguished by larval or pupal characters.

References, further reading, links:

Gerald Bothe: Bestimmungsschlüssel für die Schwebfliegen (Diptera, Syrphidae) Deutschlands und der Niederlande, DJN, 1984, ISBN 3-923376-07-3
M.C.D.Speight: Species Accounts of European Syrphidae (Diptera), Glasgow 2011, Syrph the Net, the database of European Syrphidae, vol. 65, 285 pp., Syrph the Net publications, Dublin.
Menno Reemer, Willem Renema, Wouter van Steenis, Theo Zeegers, Aat Barendregt, John T. Smit, Mark P. van Veen, Jeroen van Steenis, Laurens van der Leij: De Nederlandse Zweefvliegen (Diptera: Syrphidae), Nederlandse Fauna 8, 2009.
Graham E. Rotheray: Colour Guide to Hoverfly Larvae (Diptera, Syrphidae) in Britain and Europe, Dipterists Digest No.9, 1993, Derek Whiteley, Sheffield, England, ISSN 0853 7260
Boyd Barr: Feeding behaviour and mouthpart structure of larvae of Microdon eggeri and Microdon mutabilis (Diptera, Syrphidae). Dipterists Digest, 1995, 2 (1): 31–36.