Ocyptamus fuscipennis

(Say, 1823)

Dusky-winged Hover Fly

Ocyptamus fuscipennis is a syrphid fly commonly known as the Dusky-winged Hover Fly. It occurs throughout North America from Canada to Cuba. The species is notable for its predatory larvae, which have been documented feeding on aphids in citrus groves in Puerto Rico. are known to visit flowers, including Xyris tennesseensis.

Ocyptamus fuscipennis by (c) Steve Kerr, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Steve Kerr. Used under a CC-BY license.

Ocyptamus fuscipennis by (c) mayfly1963, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by mayfly1963. Used under a CC-BY license.

Ocyptamus fuscipennis male by Williston S.W.. Used under a Public domain license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Ocyptamus fuscipennis: /oʊˈsɪptəməs ˌfjuːsɪˈpɛnɪs/

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Images

Distribution

North America, including the United States (Vermont and elsewhere), Canada, and Cuba. Distribution records indicate presence in northern regions (Norway) and throughout the United States.

Diet

Larvae are predatory, feeding on aphids. In Puerto Rico, larvae prey on autumn cohorts of (citrus ).

Host Associations

Toxoptera citricida - preylarval prey in Puerto Rico citrus groves
Xyris tennesseensis - visited by flower visitation

Ecological Role

agent; larvae function as of pests in agricultural systems.

Human Relevance

Potential biocontrol agent for management in citrus production. may contribute to pollination through flower visitation.

Similar Taxa

Pseudodoros clavatusSimilar -mimicking appearance and flower-visiting ; distinguished by wing venation and abdominal markings
Baccha spp.Similar slender body form; Ocyptamus have at least faint dark wing markings while Baccha typically shows banded patterns

More Details

Taxonomic Note

Formerly classified in related ; the genus Ocyptamus has undergone taxonomic revision. in this genus are part of the diverse Syrphidae , which includes many -mimicking forms.

Observation Data

iNaturalist records indicate over 5,600 observations, suggesting this is a relatively common and well-documented .