Oblique Stripetail
Allograpta obliqua (Say, 1823)
Oblique Stripetail: https://marylandbiodiversity.com/species/17866
Synonyms
Common Oblique Syrphid  Oblique Streaktail 
Tags

Map Snapshot

113 Records

Status

Fairly common and widespread in Maryland. Flies mostly May to October and visits a wide variety of flowers.

Description

Fairly long and thin. The only other member of its genus in Maryland is the much less common A. exotica. It can be distinguished with care from photos based on a careful examination of the abdominal pattern.

Relationships

Larvae feed on various insects and mites. According to BugGuide, larvae of the Common Oblique Syrphid have been found on over 50 species of aphids.

Seasonality Snapshot

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Source: Wikipedia

Allograpta obliqua
Allograpta obliqua
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Diptera
Family: Syrphidae
Genus: Allograpta
Species:
A. obliqua
Binomial name
Allograpta obliqua
(Say, 1823)
Synonyms
  • Scaeva obliqua Say, 1823
  • Syrphus baccides Walker, 1849
  • Syrphus dimemsus Walker, 1852
  • Syrphus securiferus Macquart, 1842
  • Syrphus signatus Wulp, 1867

Allograpta obliqua is a common North American species of hoverfly, commonly known as oblique streaktail. The larvae are important predators of aphids while adults are pollinators.[1]

Description

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Adults are 6–7 mm long, with yellow stripes on the thorax and cross banding on the abdomen with four longitudinal, yellow stripes or spots on the fourth and fifth tergite. The face is yellow and lacks a complete median stripe. Males have holoptic eyes and females have dichoptic eyes.[1]

Eggs are white, oval, and about 0.84 mm in length. Larvae reach 8–9 mm.[1] They are bumpy and slug-like.[2]

Life history

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Adults of A. obliqua occur throughout the year in the southern part of their range. Eggs are laid on surfaces leaves or branches near aphids. Larvae hatch in two to eight days and feed on the aphids.[1]

Distribution

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Found in most of the continental United States, New York State. Quebec in Canada, Bermuda, Mexico, and some parts of the Neotropical Americas, and the West Indies.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e H. V. Weems (2008). "A Hover Fly, Allograpta obliqua (Say) (Insecta: Diptera:Syrphidae)" (PDF). DPI Entomology Circular. 106 (1). Gainesville, Florida: Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida.: 4. Retrieved 2009-01-09.
  2. ^ Will, Kip; Gross, Joyce; Rubinoff, Daniel; Powell, Jerry A. (2020). Field Guide to California Insects. Oakland, California: University of California Press. pp. 303–304. ISBN 9780520288744.
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