Atypical-syrphid-ecology

Guides

• Chalcosyrphus metallicus

  Yellow-legged Leafwalker

  Chalcosyrphus metallicus is an uncommon species of syrphid fly found in the southeastern United States. Unlike many hoverflies that visit flowers for nectar and pollen, adults of this species are associated with dead and decaying wood. The species exhibits distinctive enlarged and spinose metafemora on the hind legs, a trait shared with related species in the genus. Larvae develop as saprophages in rotting wood rather than as aphid predators like many other syrphids.

  wood-inhabitingsaprophagous-larvaeuncommonsoutheastern-USdead-wood-associationatypical-syrphid-ecology