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

Microdon analis/major

  • Microdon analis/major, female  720
    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, female  721
    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, male  4570
    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, male  4571
    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, mating  5307
    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  10817
    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  10818
    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  10819
    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  10820
    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  10821
    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, larva  8978
    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, larva  8979
    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, larva  8980
    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:
  1. Gerald Bothe: Bestimmungsschlüssel für die Schwebfliegen (Diptera, Syrphidae) Deutschlands und der Niederlande, DJN, 1984, ISBN 3-923376-07-3
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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
  5. Boyd Barr: Feeding behaviour and mouthpart structure of larvae of Microdon eggeri and Microdon mutabilis (Diptera, Syrphidae). Dipterists Digest, 1995, 2 (1): 31–36.