Hoverfly

Chrysotoxum intermedium

Description:

Like most of the syrphids, Chrysotoxum intermedium presents a remarkable batesian mimicry with some genera of wasps, by adopting a similar look but lacking their defensive, as the sting or unpalatable taste. His defense is therefore merely deterrent, limited to warn predators with their aposematic coloration of an indeed non-existent risk . The upper surface of the head (vertex) and forehead are black, as well as the long antennae and thorax, where two lines of gray color are drawn. The abdomen is black, crossed by three pairs of yellow lines that reach the outside edge. In the last segment there are two yellow lines bordering a blackspot, with bell-shaped. The legs are yellow, except tarsi presenting amber from the wings. Their size varies between ten and fourteen millimeters, hovering around ten each of the elytra. The wings are translucent, with grayish tones, except in the front where they are amber color, with significantly marked veins. It differs from other similar Chrisotoxum species because the brown band of the wings reaches apical area of them. For example, Chrysotoxum festivum is very similar but the brown band of the wings is shorter, leaving the apical area hyaline. Although the imago feeds on the nectar of the flowers, the larvae feed on aphids, thus being good allies of farmers.