Biology:Tropidiina
Tropidiina is a subtribe of hoverflies within the tribe Milesiini. Tropidiina includes 11 genera.[1]
Tropidiina, although traditionally classified within the tribe Milesiini, has also been found to be a sister group to the tribe Eristalini in recent phylogenetic studies, indicating that Milesiini, as currently defined, does not include all descendants of the last common ancestor, making Milesiini polyphyletic.[2]
Classification
Tropidiina is one of eight subtribes in Milesiini, the other seven being Blerina, Criorhinina, Milesiina, Pocotina, Sericomyiina, Temnostomina and Xylotina.[3]
Characteristics
The type genus Tropidia illustrates the group's characteristic swollen hind femur. Its species are wasp-like, resembling Nomada bees, and are 9–11 mm long and black with tawny markings. The face is concave and longitudinally keeled, and the short, drooping antennae are set close together on a small protuberance in the middle of the face.[4] The body shape narrows progressively from rear to head.[5] The hind femur is strongly swollen and bears a large triangular plate at its tip, a trait that separates Tropidia from the related genus Xylota. The abdomen is contrastingly patterned, with tawny markings on the second and third tergites.[4]
Distribution
Tropidia and most other genera in Tropidiina are primarily found in the Americas[6] and Europe, although there have also been sightings in Asia, Africa and Oceania.[7] Other genera, such as Meropidia, are found exclusively in the Andes mountain range.[8]
Ecology and behaviour
Seasonality
Species in the subtribe Tropidiina are mainly active during the summer months, especially July.[7]
Observations recorded on platforms such as iNaturalist show that sightings of species in Tropidiina have increased noticeably over the past few years. As of 2025, numbers have doubled since 2020.[7]
Feeding
Larvae in the subtribe Tropidiina are usually saprophagous, and also contribute to pest control, as they are also aphidophagous. Adults in the subtribe Tropidiina are known to pollinate a wide range of flowers.[9]
References
- ↑ "Tropidiina". https://syrphidae.myspecies.info/taxonomy/term/701/media.
- ↑ Moran, Kevin M; Skevington, Jeffrey H; Kelso, Scott; Mengual, Ximo; Jordaens, Kurt; Young, Andrew D; Ståhls, Gunilla; Mutin, Valerii et al. (2021-04-06). "A multigene phylogeny of the eristaline flower flies (Diptera: Syrphidae), with emphasis on the subtribe Criorhinina" (in en). Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 194 (1): 120–135. doi:10.1093/zoolinnean/zlab006. ISSN 0024-4082. https://academic.oup.com/zoolinnean/article/194/1/120/6211633. Retrieved 2025-07-29.
- ↑ "Tribe Milesiini" (in en). https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/488425-Milesiini.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Watson, L.; Dallwitz, M.J. (2003). "Tropidia Meigen". https://www.delta-intkey.com/britin/syr/www/tropidia.htm.
- ↑ "matthewvosper's Journal · iNaturalist United Kingdom" (in en-GB). https://uk.inaturalist.org/journal/matthewvosper.
- ↑ "Genus Tropidia" (in en). https://bugguide.net/node/view/33711.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 "Subtribe Tropidiina" (in en). https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/520027-Tropidiina.
- ↑ Morales, Mírian Nunes; Stahls, Gunilla; Hippa, Heikki (2013-10-02). "Two new species of Meropidia Hippa & Thompson, 1983 (Diptera, Syrphidae) from the Andes Mountains" (in en). ZooKeys (338): 55–65. doi:10.3897/zookeys.338.6093. ISSN 1313-2970. PMID 39161640. Bibcode: 2013ZooK..338...55M.
- ↑ Moquet, Laura; Laurent, Estelle; Bacchetta, Rossana; Jacquemart, Anne-Laure (January 2018). "Conservation of hoverflies (Diptera, Syrphidae) requires complementary resources at the landscape and local scales". Insect Conservation and Diversity 11 (1): 72–87. doi:10.1111/icad.12245. ISSN 1752-458X. PMID 32336985.
Wikidata ☰ Q21356057 entry
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