Syritta flaviventris

Macquart, 1842

Peg-legged Compost Fly

Syritta flaviventris is a syrphid fly known from Madagascar, southern Europe, and introduced in the Americas (Chile, Brazil, United States, Mexico). Larvae develop in decaying platyclades of Opuntia maxima, with stages described from Spanish Mediterranean populations. have been reared from larvae collected in this cactus substrate.

202 365 - Peg-legged Compost Fly - Syritta flaviventris, Barrett House, Lorton, Virginia, July 21, 2023 (53062347001) by Judy Gallagher. Used under a CC BY 2.0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Syritta flaviventris: /sɪˈrɪtə flɑːvɪˈvɛntrɪs/

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Habitat

Decaying platyclades of Opuntia maxima (prickly pear cactus) on the Spanish Mediterranean coast.

Distribution

Native to Madagascar and southern Europe. Introduced to Chile, Brazil, United States, and Mexico. Present in Vermont and the conterminous 48 United States.

Host Associations

  • Opuntia maxima - larval development substratedecaying platyclades

Life Cycle

Larvae develop in decaying platyclades of Opuntia maxima. reared from larvae collected in this substrate. Preliminary data on described in literature; stages (larva and ) have been formally described.

Behavior

Feeding has been analyzed in relation to cephalopharyngeal skeleton .

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