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--></style><title>Re: [Syrphidae] Generic Identification Help
Needed</title></head><body>
<div>Dear John</div>
<div><br></div>
<div>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.</div>
<div><br></div>
<div>http://www.myrmecos.net/insects/LarvalPred1.html</div>
<div><br></div>
<div>Best regards</div>
<div><br></div>
<div>Santos Rojo</div>
<div><br></div>
<div>===</div>
<div><br></div>
<div><br></div>
<blockquote type="cite" cite>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.<br>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite> <br>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite>The predator in question showed
a tessellated pattern of distinct and prominent wax tufts.<br>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite> <br>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite>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.<br>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite> <br>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite>I have included a photo of the
insect. Would appreciate commentary by anyone familiar with
it.<br>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite> <br>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite>Sincerely,<br>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite>John Graham, Ph.D., entomology<br>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite><a
href="mailto:jopagr@comcast.net\">jopagr@comcast.net\</a><br>
</blockquote>
<div><br></div>
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</pre></x-sigsep>
<div
>*********************************************************************<br
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Biodiversidad<br>
Dpto de Ciencias Ambientales y Recursos Naturales<br>
Universidad de Alicante. Apdo. 99<br>
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