Large-Tailed Aphideater

eupeodes volucris

The Large-Tailed Aphideater (Eupeodes volucris) is a fascinating species of hoverfly well-known for its dual role as a master pollinator and a natural pest controller. At first glance, this nimble insect might be mistaken for a stinging wasp or bee due to its striking black-and-yellow patterned abdomen. However, it is completely harmless to humans. It gets its dramatic common name from the bulbous, prominent reproductive structures on the male's posterior, as well as the voracious, aphid-hunting lifestyle of its larval stage. These hoverflies are vital components of their ecosystems across North America. While the adults spend their days zipping from flower to flower drinking nectar and transferring pollen, the slug-like larvae act as relentless predators, silently sweeping through gardens and agricultural fields to devour thousands of aphids. This makes the Large-Tailed Aphideater a highly valued ally for farmers and gardeners alike, beautifully bridging the gap between pest management and plant reproduction.

生息地: Typically found in open gardens, sunny meadows, agricultural fields, and woodland edges where flowering plants and aphid colonies are abundant.

外見

The Large-Tailed Aphideater is a moderately sized hoverfly reaching about 7 to 11 millimeters in length. It features a predominantly black abdomen punctuated by three pairs of distinctive pale yellow to whitish crescent-shaped spots, or lunules, that do not quite reach the side margins of its body. The thorax is a metallic greenish-bronze, bearing a pair of large, reddish-brown compound eyes that meet at the top of the head in males but remain separated in females. Males are specifically distinguished by unusually large, rounded terminalia at the end of the abdomen, giving them a recognizable 'large-tailed' appearance. Their single pair of transparent wings rest flat over the back when the insect is stationary.

界Animalia門Arthropoda綱Insecta目Diptera科Syrphidae属Eupeodes

Large-Tailed Aphideater

カテゴリ

昆虫

レア度

Common

危険度

1/5 · 非常に低い

スナップ

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おもしろい事実

A single Large-Tailed Aphideater larva can devour up to 400 aphids during its two-week developmental phase, piercing them with specialized mouthparts to drain their fluids.

Adults can beat their wings up to 120 times per second, allowing them to remain completely suspended in mid-air or instantly dart away at the slightest sign of movement.

Despite 'dressing up' in the bold warning colors of a stinging wasp to trick predators, they are entirely defenseless and do not possess a stinger.

The 'large tail' that gives this species its name is actually a prominent set of male reproductive organs called terminalia, which tuck under the abdomen.

特殊能力

Adults possess black and yellow markings that mimic stinging wasps and bees, successfully deterring visually hunting predators like birds despite the fly having no stinger.

Highly evolved wing mechanics allow adults to remain perfectly stationary in mid-air, fly backward, and execute rapid directional changes to evade threats.

Females utilize highly sensitive olfactory receptors to detect the honeydew secreted by aphids, ensuring they lay their eggs directly within an active food source for their young.

サイズと詳細

長さ: 1 cm
翼開長: 1-2 cm
体重: 0.00001-0.00005 kg
寿命: 0-1 年
Top Speed: 15 km/h
一度の産卵数: 50-150
抱卵期間: 3-8 日

食性と食事

The diet undergoes a complete transformation between life stages: larvae are obligate predators of soft-bodied insects, while adults feed exclusively on floral resources.

年齢による違い: Larvae are voracious carnivores that strictly consume aphids and other small pests, whereas mature winged adults are herbivores that feed entirely on floral nectar and pollen.

主な食物

Aphids
Flower Nectar
Pollen
Thrips
Scale insects

採餌方法

Foraging

生態系とのつながり

hunts

Pea Aphid

Acyrthosiphon pisum

Primary food source for the predatory larval stage.

eaten by

Barn Swallow

Hirundo rustica

A common avian predator that catches hoverflies on the wing.

pollinator

Common Dandelion

Taraxacum officinale

Adults pollinate this widespread flowering plant while feeding on its nectar.

特徴

このオブジェクトにはまだ特徴バッジが割り当てられていません。

別名

まだ別名はありません。

コレクション

テーマが追加されると、このオブジェクトのコレクションがここに表示されます。

安全性

危険度

1/5 · 非常に低い

まだ特別な安全上の注意はありません。

よくある質問

Large-Tailed Aphideaterを見分けるには？

Large-Tailed Aphideaterを識別する最も簡単な方法は、Snappit自然識別アプリを使用することです。

Large-Tailed Aphideaterの長さは何ですか？

1 cm

Large-Tailed Aphideaterの翼開長は何ですか？

1-2 cm

Large-Tailed Aphideaterの体重は何ですか？

0.00001-0.00005 kg

Large-Tailed Aphideaterの寿命は何ですか？

0-1 年

Large-Tailed Aphideaterのtop Speedは何ですか？

15 km/h

Large-Tailed Aphideaterは何を食べますか？

The diet undergoes a complete transformation between life stages: larvae are obligate predators of soft-bodied insects, while adults feed exclusively on floral resources.

Large-Tailed Aphideaterは通常どこに生息していますか？

Typically found in open gardens, sunny meadows, agricultural fields, and woodland edges where flowering plants and aphid colonies are abundant.