Posted by
Sundew on 03-02-2019 20:41
#2
Welcome to the forum! Unfortunately I cannot identify your beautiful male syrphid, but the elongate slender shape of the abdomen points to tribus Bacchini or Syrphini.
However, I can tell you something about the flower. This is a species of
Commelina, and it is known for its pollinator deception. The four yellow organs are sterile stamens (= staminodia) that mimic abundant pollen and thus attract flower visitors that are imprinted on the yellow pollen signal. The two lower stamens are much longer and inconspicuously bluish, their anthers contain the fertile pollen. While the visiting insects are dealing with the attractive but non-rewarding staminodes, they get loaded with pollen on their lower abdomen (where they do not expect it). The pollen is then transferred to the stigma that is the small pink organ positioned between the fertile anthers at a distance from the centre of the flower. On your picture, the fly sits in an upside-down position that is not efficient in pollen transfer.
I hope someone can tell you more about the fly! Maybe an
Ocyptamus species?
Regards, Sundew
