Allograpta obliqua

Life-forms

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Regnum: Animalia
Subregnum: Eumetazoa
Cladus: Bilateria
Cladus: Nephrozoa
Cladus: Protostomia
Cladus: Ecdysozoa
Cladus: Panarthropoda
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Hexapoda
Classis: Insecta
Cladus: Dicondylia
Subclassis: Pterygota
Cladus: Metapterygota
Infraclassis: Neoptera
Cladus: Eumetabola
Cladus: Endopterygota
Superordo: Panorpida
Cladus: Antliophora
Ordo: Diptera
Subordo: Brachycera
Infraordo: Muscomorpha
Sectio: Aschiza
Superfamilia: Syrphoidea

Familia: Syrphidae
Subfamilia: Syrphinae
Tribus: Syrphini
Genus: Allograpta
Species: Allograpta obliqua

Allograpta obliqua is a common North American species of hoverfly, commonly known as Oblique Streaktail. The larvae are important predators on aphids.

Description

Adults are 6–7 mm long, with yellow stripes on the thorax, and cross banding on the abdomen; with four longitudinal, yellow stripes or spots on the fourth and fifth tergite. Yellow face lacking a complete median stripe. Eggs are creamy white, elongate oval and about 0.84 mm in length. Full grown larvae are 8–9 mm.[1]
Life history

Adults of A. obliqua occur throughout the year in the southern part of their range. Eggs are laid on surfaces leaves or branches near aphids. Larvae hatch in two to eight days and feed on the aphids.[1]
Distribution

Found in most of the continental United States. Quebec in Canada, Bermuda, Mexico, and some parts of the Neotropical Americas, and the West Indies.[1]
References

H. V. Weems (2008). "A Hover Fly, Allograpta obliqua (Say) (Insecta: Diptera:Syrphidae)" (PDF). DPI Entomology Circular. Gainesville, Florida: Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. 106 (1): 4. Retrieved 2009-01-09.