Laetodon
Reemer, 2013
Species Guides
1- Laetodon laetus(Small Metallic Ant Fly)
Laetodon is a of hoverflies in the Syrphidae, Microdontinae, established by Reemer in 2013. The genus belongs to the tribe Microdontini, a group of hoverflies whose larvae develop within nests. Laetodon represents one of several genera within this specialized myrmecophilous lineage.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Laetodon: //leɪˈtoʊ.dɒn//
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Images
Host Associations
- Ants - larval developmentMicrodontinae larvae are obligate myrmecophiles, developing within nests. Specific ant associations for Laetodon are not documented.
Similar Taxa
- MicrodonBoth belong to Microdontini and share myrmecophilous larval ; Laetodon is distinguished by morphological characters established in the 2013 revision.
- ParamicrodonFellow member of Microdontini with similar ecological specializations; Laetodon was separated from related based on morphological features.
More Details
Taxonomic history
Laetodon was erected by Menno Reemer in 2013 as part of a comprehensive revision of the Microdontinae, which reorganized several previously described into new generic combinations.
Myrmecophily
As members of Microdontinae, Laetodon are presumed to have larvae that live as within colonies, though direct observations of Laetodon larvae in ant nests have not been published.