Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Asarkina ericetorum (Fabricius, 1781)

I have moved to http://keicmacro.blogspot.com/


The size of the above specimen is about 10 mm in length, has orange-yellow abdomen with four narrow black bands, orange scutellum, black metallic thorax, large maroon compound eyes, metallic-blue frontal vitta, has golden-orange hairs on the thorax, abdomen, scutellum, legs and the face.

The flight pattern is quite interesting. It has the capability to hover at one spot during flight. It also hovers from spot to spot before resting on a leaf or flower. Due to the shape and colour, it is often mistaken as wasp by some people.



It is a beneficial insect where its larvae prey on aphids, and adults pollinate flowers. The adult hoverfly feeds on dew or nectar.

Diptera.Syrphidae.Syrphinae.Syrphini

Reference site:
http://www.diptera.info/photogallery.php?photo_id=9808
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Orange_striped_hover_fly_(5693863789).jpg