Thread subject: Diptera.info :: Odd Syrphus?

Posted by Chris Webster on 16-12-2008 23:15
#1
These 2 females were seen 28.7.2008, 10.8.2008 in Berkshire, UK.
Are they just Syrphus with weak markings? They don't seem to be Parasyrphus sp.

Posted by Chris Webster on 16-12-2008 23:26
#2
Ah... no picture uploaded!! Trying another way..
syrphidae.3644.co.uk/srph/pic17/ukn/odds.jpg

Posted by Vladimir Davydov on 17-12-2008 05:46
#3
I saw similar http://diptera.in...ad_id=9524

Posted by Gerard Pennards on 17-12-2008 12:50
#4
Indeed, it is a failure of mother nature in constructing the specimen.
Something happened during pupal stage (temperature, moisture etc) and it gave the animal this color and form.
It happens often, a lot of times animals with 'failures' die already before hatching, but we also see specimens like this!
Greetings

Posted by Chris Webster on 17-12-2008 22:39
#5
Thanks Vladimir... your specimen looks just the same.

Maybe these are not failures Gerard, if the aberration is not linked with infertility, and if males can recognise them more easily than I can!

Posted by Gerard Pennards on 18-12-2008 09:33
#6
Indeed it's not always linked to infertility, although a lot of times the specimens are not 'fit' enough to compete with normal specimens, especially the males.
There are also specimens (for example Parasyrphus punctulatus) of which there are sometimes a lot of intersexes present in spring, which have reduced genital organs and intermediate male-female characters and those are obviously not able to reproduce!
greetings