Thread subject: Diptera.info :: Pupae Meliscaeva cinctella/auricollis
Posted by Paul Hoekstra on 09-11-2024 11:46
#1
My son reared 2 Syrphid larvae, one male Meliscaeva cinctella and 1 female Meliscaeva auricollis, but both were in the same jar. Does anyone know which pupa belongs to which Syrphid? Or is there any literature on pupae of Syrphids?
Posted by eklans on 10-11-2024 15:16
#2
Hi Paul, I do not know literature on the pupal state of syrphids - for the larvae I use Graham E. Rotheray (1993): Colour Guide to Hoverfly Larvae.
He says
M. auricollis larva's prp (the posterior breathing tubes) has a basal rim while
M. cinctella's is yellowish brown in overall colour.
Your darker larva is not unicoloured and seems to have a basal rim so I
guess this could be
M. auricollis.
Posted by Paul Hoekstra on 17-11-2024 23:48
#3
Thank you for your reply. I have some difficulty in distinguishing the basal rim, I have made detailed pictures of the 2 pupae breathing tubes, first photo is of the dark pupae, the second of the light pupae.
Posted by eklans on 18-11-2024 12:49
#4
Yes, there's hardly a difference between the pupae. Remains only the colour/pattern - but I'm afraid it's not enough to identify.