Discovery of Spilomyia Recta: New Hoverfly Species

Discovery of a New Hoverfly Species

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Context

Three Kashmiri scientists have made a remarkable discovery in the high-altitude alpine forests: a new species of hoverfly that mimics the wasp.

Discovery Details

The new hoverfly species, named Spilomyia Recta, was identified during a biodiversity survey in the Rafiabad forests.
The discovery process took over two years, involving detailed morphological analysis and DNA sequencing.
Despite its resemblance to European species, this hoverfly is a new addition to science.

Significance of the Discovery

The new species mimics wasps, a trait that likely helps it evade predators.
This mimicry, along with its role in nutrient recycling and potential as a pollinator of high-altitude medicinal plants, underscores the species' ecological importance.

Broader Implications

This discovery showcases the biodiversity of the Kashmir region and highlights the contributions of local scientists to global entomological knowledge.

Category	Details
Common Names	Hoverflies, Flower Flies, Syrphids
Family	Syrphidae
Behavior	- Often hover or nectar at flowers - Adults feed mainly on nectar and pollen - Larvae feed on a wide range of foods, including saprotrophic and insectivorous diets
Ecological Importance	- Larvae are used in biological control - Adults are important pollinators
Species Diversity	About 6,000 species in 200 genera
Distribution	Found worldwide except Antarctica
Appearance	- Varies in size from 3–20 mm - Brightly colored with patterns of yellow or brown - Mimic stinging wasps and bees (Batesian mimicry)
Key Features	- Single functional pair of wings - Hind wings reduced to balancing organs - Spurious vein parallel to fourth longitudinal wing vein
Reproduction	- Maggots feed on various foods, including decaying matter or other insects - Example: Rat-tailed maggot (Eristalis tenax)
Evolution	- Oldest fossils from Eocene aged formations - Genus Prosyrphus from Late Cretaceous Burmese amber
Habitat	- Found in most biomes except extreme deserts, tundra, and Antarctica - Adults often near flowers - Some species are inquilines or myrmecophiles
Pollination	- Important pollinators of many plants - Often second-most important group after bees - Preferences for white and yellow flowers
Relationship with Humans	- Larvae used for biocontrol of pests like aphids - Companion plants attract hoverflies (e.g., Alyssum, chamomile) - Some larvae live in aquatic environments and purify water

Batesian Mimicry

Batesian mimicry is a form of mimicry where a harmless species evolves to imitate the warning signals of a harmful species. This mimicry aims to deceive predators into avoiding the harmless species as if it were harmful.

Example: A well-known example is the mimicry of the harmless viceroy butterfly (which resembles the toxic monarch butterfly) to deter predators. The viceroy benefits from the predator's avoidance of the monarch, despite not being harmful itself.

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q. What is Spilomyia recta, which has recently been in the news?

a) A newly discovered species of insect in India

b) A rare medicinal plant found in the Western Ghats

c) A newly identified strain of a virus

d) A novel geological formation in the Himalayas

Answer: a) A newly discovered species of insect in India

SOURCE: NDTV