Away from the Mud. Bow-Femured Hoverfly, Toxomerus duplicatus, on an Asterlike, Tres Bocas, Tigre Delta, Argentina
And there I was at the head of the Arroyos Santa Rosa and Carancho hopping about with bare legs on the demi-dry mud while my trousers dried in the shrubbery (see my previous photo). In some dread I'd be eaten alive by mosquitoes, I was happily surprised there were only other insects about. Here's a Bow-Femured Hoverfly, Toxomerus duplicatus, enjoying what an Asterlike has on protein offer. From the photo you can't see its Bow-like Femur unless you're willing to guess at it just on the left by the second black stripe.
Well, what use are those insects anyway except to delight a lonely Mudhopper!? Quite recently (2014) it has been noticed that the larvae of this Toxomerus prey on those of that Pesky Leaf Beetle Microtheca spp. Microtheca devours the foliage of Forage Turnip, Raphanus sativus, var. oleiferus. Devastating indeed for farmers in the south of Brazil dependent on this Brassica. So now it will have to be seen whether use can be made of our Hoverfly as a pest-controller... Perhaps they're for more than Beauty alone.
Away from the Mud. Bow-Femured Hoverfly, Toxomerus duplicatus, on an Asterlike, Tres Bocas, Tigre Delta, Argentina
And there I was at the head of the Arroyos Santa Rosa and Carancho hopping about with bare legs on the demi-dry mud while my trousers dried in the shrubbery (see my previous photo). In some dread I'd be eaten alive by mosquitoes, I was happily surprised there were only other insects about. Here's a Bow-Femured Hoverfly, Toxomerus duplicatus, enjoying what an Asterlike has on protein offer. From the photo you can't see its Bow-like Femur unless you're willing to guess at it just on the left by the second black stripe.
Well, what use are those insects anyway except to delight a lonely Mudhopper!? Quite recently (2014) it has been noticed that the larvae of this Toxomerus prey on those of that Pesky Leaf Beetle Microtheca spp. Microtheca devours the foliage of Forage Turnip, Raphanus sativus, var. oleiferus. Devastating indeed for farmers in the south of Brazil dependent on this Brassica. So now it will have to be seen whether use can be made of our Hoverfly as a pest-controller... Perhaps they're for more than Beauty alone.