[Syrphidae] Generic Identification Help Needed

[Santos Rojo]

Dear John

The larvae covered with white filaments of waxy material it is a 
ladybird beetle probably Scymnus genus or close. Here you can see a 
photo. Larvae and adults are predators of aphid colonies.

http://www.myrmecos.net/insects/LarvalPred1.html

Best regards

Santos Rojo

===


>In the USA did encounter an aphid predator that I believe was a 
>syrphid.  The I failed to collect the animal, or even examine it, I 
>did take a photo of it, on a Hairy Cat's-Ear (Hypochaeris radicata) 
>plant supporting a population of Uroleucon (Dactynotus) aphids.
>
>
>
>The predator in question showed a tessellated pattern of distinct 
>and prominent wax tufts.
>
>
>
>The only other non-coleopterous insect predator of which I am 
>familiar is the lepidopterous Feniseca tarquinius larva, but I 
>believe it preys on woolly aphids such as the Prociphilus 
>tessellatus.  In that predation mode, it can get somewhat randomly 
>and loosely covered with wax filaments producted by the aphids.  The 
>predator in question, however, is not covered this way--and 
>furthermore, the Uroleucon in question does not produced was 
>filaments.
>
>
>
>I have included a photo of the insect.  Would appreciate commentary 
>by anyone familiar with it.
>
>
>
>Sincerely,
>
>John Graham, Ph.D., entomology
>
><mailto:jopagr at comcast.net\>jopagr at comcast.net\
>

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