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Microdon
Genus of flies / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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This article is about the fly genus. For other species with "microdon" in their species name, see Microdon (disambiguation).
Hover flies (family Syrphidae) of the genus Microdon are unusual among the Diptera. Like other members of the subfamily, they are myrmecophiles, meaning they inhabit the nests of ants.
Quick Facts Microdon, Scientific classification ...
Microdon | |
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Microdon mutabilis | |
Scientific classification ![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Diptera |
Family: | Syrphidae |
Subfamily: | Microdontinae |
Genus: | Microdon Meigen, 1803 |
Type species | |
Musca mutabilis | |
Subgenera and species groups[1] | |
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Synonyms[1] | |
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![Thumb image](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5b/Microdon_Eggeri_larvae_third_instar_%28by_Maria_andries%2C_1912%29.jpg/320px-Microdon_Eggeri_larvae_third_instar_%28by_Maria_andries%2C_1912%29.jpg)
There are 249 species known worldwide, with the greatest diversity being from the tropics; 30 species are known from North America, though it is expected that many of these species will be placed in other genera in time, as Microdon has been used as a catch-all for various unrelated species not placed in other genera.[2][3][needs update]