Thread subject: Diptera.info :: Pupae Meliscaeva cinctella/auricollis
Posted by Paul Hoekstra on 09-11-2024 10:46
#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?
![waarneming.nl/media/photo/91366035.jpg](https://waarneming.nl/media/photo/91366035.jpg)
Posted by eklans on 10-11-2024 14:16
#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 22:48
#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.
![waarneming.nl/media/photo/108950978.jpg](https://waarneming.nl/media/photo/108950978.jpg)
Posted by eklans on 18-11-2024 11:49
#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.