Sphecomyia interrupta
Moran, 2019
Sphecomyia interrupta is a of hoverfly ( Syrphidae) described in 2019. It is a large mimic within the Holarctic Sphecomyia, belonging to the S. vittata species group. The species is characterized by distinctive morphological features including a completely scutellum without a black rim, an interrupted medial facial vitta, and specific antennal segment proportions. Like other members of subtribe Criorhinina, it likely exhibits of stinging wasps.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Sphecomyia interrupta: //ˌsfɛkoʊˈmaɪə ˌɪntəˈrʌptə//
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Identification
Sphecomyia interrupta can be distinguished from the similar S. brevicornis by three key features: the scutellum is completely without a black rim posteriorly (vs. black rim present in S. brevicornis); the medial facial vitta is interrupted by a spot of pruinosity on the (vs. entirely non-pruinose in S. brevicornis); and antennal segments are in approximately a 3:3:2 ratio (vs. shorter proportions in S. brevicornis). The thoracic has four pruinose vittae rather than six. Fore are not broadened.
Images
Distribution
United States.
Similar Taxa
- Sphecomyia brevicornisVery similar congeneric distinguished by black-rimmed scutellum, uninterrupted medial facial vitta, and shorter antennal proportions
- Sphecomyia vittataCongeneric mimic in the same group, sharing scutellar vittae
- Criorhina speciesRelated in subtribe Criorhinina with similar -mimic ; some were historically confused with Sphecomyia
Sources and further reading
- BugGuide
- Wikipedia
- GBIF taxonomy match
- iNaturalist taxon
- NCBI Taxonomy
- Catalogue of Life
- Bug Eric: Eight Illinois Wasp and Bee Mimics in Twenty Minutes
- Bug Eric: Last Night to Blacklight?
- Arkansas | Beetles In The Bush | Page 2
- Asilidae | Beetles In The Bush | Page 2
- Revision of world Sphecomyia Latreille (Diptera, Syrphidae)