''Chrysotoxum verralli'' is a
species
In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...
of
hoverfly
Hover flies, also called flower flies or syrphid flies, make up the insect family Syrphidae. As their common name suggests, they are often seen hovering or nectaring at flowers; the adults of many species feed mainly on nectar and pollen, while ...
belonging to the subfamily
Syrphinae
The Syrphinae constitute one of the three subfamilies of the fly family Syrphidae. Most larvae of this subfamily feed on aphids. It is a monophyletic group with more than 1,600 species.
Gallery
File:Melanostoma sp. (scalare^) Female. - Flick ...
.
Distribution
This species is present in
Europe
Europe is a large peninsula conventionally considered a continent in its own right because of its great physical size and the weight of its history and traditions. Europe is also considered a Continent#Subcontinents, subcontinent of Eurasia ...
, the eastern
Palearctic realm
The Palearctic or Palaearctic is the largest of the eight biogeographic realms of the Earth. It stretches across all of Eurasia north of the foothills of the Himalayas, and North Africa.
The realm consists of several bioregions: the Euro-Sibe ...
, and the
Near East
The ''Near East''; he, המזרח הקרוב; arc, ܕܢܚܐ ܩܪܒ; fa, خاور نزدیک, Xāvar-e nazdik; tr, Yakın Doğu is a geographical term which roughly encompasses a transcontinental region in Western Asia, that was once the hist ...
.
Habitat
These flies live in grasslands, often close to trees.
[Syrphes en Picardie]
/ref>
Description
''Chrysotoxum verralli'' can reach a length of about .[ These species is a wasp-mimic, with yellow and black bands and long antennae. These bands are substantially parallel to the front edge of tergites. The black front edge of the tergite 2 is almost straight. The third antennal segment is shorter than segments 1 and 2 together.][ The female’s eyes are separated from each other.
This species is hard to distinguish and very similar to '']Chrysotoxum arcuatum
''Chrysotoxum arcuatum'', is a species of hoverfly. It is widespread throughout Britain and Ireland but much more common in the upland districts of the north and west where it is typically found at ground level near woodland and moorland edges. ...
'', ''Chrysotoxum cautum
''Chrysotoxum cautum'' is a species of hoverfly. It is found in southern Great Britain, Britain and Europe East into the Palearctic but is normally encountered in small numbers. The larvae are thought to feed on root aphids. Adults are usually fo ...
'', ''Chrysotoxum elegans
''Chrysotoxum elegans'' is a species of hoverfly. It is found in southern mainland Europe. The larvae are thought to feed on root aphid
Aphids are small sap-sucking insects and members of the superfamily Aphidoidea. Common names include gre ...
'' and '' Chrysotoxum octomaculatum''.The Lizard
/ref>
Etymology
The name honours George Henry Verrall
George Henry Verrall (7 February 1848 – 16 September 1911) was a British horse racing official, entomologist, botanist and Conservative Party (UK), Conservative politician.
Horse racing
Verrall was born in Lewes, Sussex. Following education at ...
.
References
* Collin, J. E. 1940. ''Notes on Syrphidae (Diptera)''. IV. Entomologist's mon. Mag. 76: 150-158.
Insects described in 1940
Diptera of Europe
Syrphinae
Taxa named by James Edward Collin
{{Syrphidae-stub