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Melangyna viridiceps
Species of fly From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Melangyna viridiceps is an Australian hoverfly, known as the common hover fly.[2]
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Description
It is one of the two most common hoverflies in Australia, alongside Simosyrphus grandicornis,[3] with which it has often been confused,[4] but can be distinguished by its all black thorax.[5]
Feeding
The adult flies feed on pollen and nectar which they gather from flowers, while the larvae feed on aphids.[6]
Distribution
It is found widely across Eastern Australia.
Some sources indicate that the species is also present in New Zealand, either on the Kermadec Islands only,[7] or on both the Kermadecs and the mainland.[8] Most recent sources,[9] however, do not record this species as being present outside of Australia. Miller's 1921 mention for the Kermadec was found to be a misidentification for Simosyrphus grandicornis,[4] and Macfarlane et al.[7] failed to cite specimens or published reports for their claim of the species' presence in the Kermadec.
References
External links
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