Psellidotus defectus
(James, 1952)
Psellidotus defectus is a of soldier fly in the Stratiomyidae, Stratiomyinae. The Psellidotus belongs to the tribe Stratiomyini and is closely related to Hedriodiscus, with which it can be difficult to distinguish in the Neotropics. Like other members of the subfamily Stratiomyinae, the larvae are aquatic. are known to visit flowers, and species in this genus exhibit strikingly patterned with horizontal banding, an associated with detection of horizontally polarized light that may aid in locating aquatic for oviposition.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Psellidotus defectus: /ˌpsɛlɪˈdoʊtəs dɪˈfɛktəs/
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Identification
Psellidotus defectus can be distinguished from similar by features of the and , though definitive identification requires examination of specific morphological characters. The genus Psellidotus is most reliably separated from the closely related genus Hedriodiscus in the Nearctic region, but this distinction becomes less clear in the Neotropics. have large, prominently patterned with horizontal banding.
Distribution
United States.
Life Cycle
Larvae are aquatic, as is characteristic of the Stratiomyinae.
Behavior
visit flowers. in this exhibit horizontal banding in the , suggesting an ability to detect horizontally polarized light, which may function in locating mates and suitable aquatic sites for oviposition.
Similar Taxa
- HedriodiscusClosely related in the same tribe Stratiomyini; distinction between Psellidotus and Hedriodiscus becomes fuzzy in the Neotropics and requires careful morphological examination.
- OdontomyiaSimilar overall appearance and shared Stratiomyinae; Psellidotus was initially thought to resemble North American Odontomyia .