Long-tailed aphideater complex is an unconventional grouping of two closely related species that are difficult to differentiate in the field. It occurs In the United States from the East Coast to the Great Plains, with just a few scattered records in the west, and it occurs across southern Canada. It is very common in Minnesota.

Adults are found from mid-April to mid-November in meadows, weedy fields, forests, plantations, and gardens. They feed on flower nectar. The larvae are predatory and feed on aphids.

Photo by Babette Kis

Description

Females of the two species cannot be distinguished from each other. Males can be distinguished only by their clasping organs (surstyli). The larvae are easily distinguished.

For a full description, see Subordinate Taxa below.


Distribution
		Sources 24, 27, 29, 30, 82, 83. Telford, Horace S.. (1939). The Syrphidae of Minnesota. University of Minnesota. Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station.
4/18/2024


Taxonomy
Order	Diptera (flies)
Suborder	Brachycera
Infraorder	Cyclorrhapha
Zoosection	Aschiza
Superfamily	Syrphoidea
Family	Syrphidae (hover flies)
Subfamily	Syrphinae (typical hover flies)
Tribe	Syrphini
Genus	Eupeodes (aphideaters)
Subgenus	Metasyrphus

Subordinate Taxa
American hover fly (Eupeodes americanus) short-tailed aphideater (Eupeodes pomus)

Synonyms


Common Names
Eupeodes americanus/pomus group long-tailed aphideater complex


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Babette Kis
Eupeodes americanus/pomus group Eupeodes americanus/pomus group, american hoverfly syrphid group, photographed at Barnes Prairie, Racine Co.… Flies are often seen by the hedgerow and on aster flowers.

Eupeodes americanus pomus group syrphid fly on aster leaf at Barnes Prairie Racine Co., WI June 18 2022		Eupeodes americanus pomus group fly on aster flower, Barnes Prairie Racine Co. WI Sept 25 2022


R Zahn


Alfredo Colon


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