Sundew

Guides

Toxomerus
Calligrapher Flies
Toxomerus is a large genus of hoverflies (family Syrphidae) distributed across the Americas, with over 130 described Neotropical species and additional Nearctic endemics. Species are small (typically 6–9 mm), characterized by large eyes with posterior indentation and diagnostic abdominal patterns. Most larvae are predatory on soft-bodied insects, particularly aphids, though at least three species are known pollen-feeders. Adults are pollinivorous, feeding on nectar and pollen from diverse flowering plants. The genus includes notable ecological specialists such as Toxomerus basalis, a kleptoparasite of sundews (Drosera), and several species introduced to the Afrotropics.
hoverfly flower-fly aphid-predator pollinator biological-control Hymenoptera-mimic kleptoparasite introduced-species Neotropical Nearctic Afrotropical-introduction polyvoltine Syrphini Syrphinae Diptera Syrphidae Toxomerus-marginatus Toxomerus-dispar Toxomerus-pulchellus Toxomerus-basalis Toxomerus-floralis Toxomerus-politus Toxomerus-apegiensis Drosera sundew pollenivory predatory-larvae urban-adapter agricultural-beneficial cryptic-larvae eye-dimorphism territorial-behavior DNA-barcoding citizen-science museum-collections range-expansion conservation-concern