For sorting difficult or impossible to identify Toxomerus observations into groups smaller than genus for ease of comparison. (holding bin)
Observation | Toxomerus identifiable group |
---|---|
Photos / SoundsWhatCalligrapher Flies (Genus Toxomerus)ObservermananaamadocostaDescriptionAtlantic Forest highland
|
T. cf. duplicatus |
undescribed | |
undescribed | |
T. aquilinus group | |
undescribed | |
undescribed | |
undescribed | |
undescribed | |
undescribed | |
undescribed | |
undescribed | |
T. croesus/pictus | |
T. cf. duplicatus | |
T. lacrymosus/musicus | |
West Indies species A | |
West Indies species A | |
West Indies species A | |
undescribed | |
undescribed | |
undescribed | |
undescribed | |
T. cf. duplicatus | |
T. cf. duplicatus | |
T. cf. duplicatus | |
T. cf. duplicatus | |
T. cf. duplicatus | |
WhatCalligrapher Flies (Genus Toxomerus)Observerjeancarlo12PlaceKm. 2 Vía Enea Gallinazo, Vía a Gallinazo, Villamaría, Manizales, Caldas, Colombia (Google, OSM) |
T. cf. duplicatus |
T. cf. duplicatus | |
T. cf. duplicatus | |
T. cf. duplicatus |
T. croesus/pictus
Information from Borges & Couri 2009, Revision of Toxomerus from Brazil.
T. croesus: "Geographical record. Southeastern to southern Brazil."
T. pictus: Synonymized with T. jaguarinus, maculatus, and extrapolatus.
"Geographical record. Widespread, from Mexico to southern South America."
I don't think I have seen abdomen diagrams looking similar to this that are labelled anything other than those species. I'm not sure how to separate T. croesus and T. pictus, but based on the range description it sounds like T. croesus might be restricted to southern Brazil.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/6744479
T. cf. aquilinus "group"
A group of 4 very similar species from South America.
"Toxomerus aquilinus, intermedius, teliger and tibicen have been frequently confused given the identifications we have seen in collections. All these species appear similar. Of the four, aquilinus is readily distinguished by the black subapical fasciae on the 3rd and 4th terga being nearly straight so that the lateral margin on the basal 1/2 is pale (Fig. 4). The other species have the black fasciae extending anterolaterally so that the lateral margin is black along most of its length (Figs 2, 8)." - Metz & Thompson, pg. 234
"Toxomerus intermedius and teliger are sister species. They share a unique shape and setal pattern of the paramere, which is not found elsewhere among Toxomerus species. They differ mainly in wing microtrichia (alula bare in teliger, microtrichose in intermedius) and male genitalia (dorsal arm of paramere with 4 long setae in teliger, two in intermedius), Toxomerus intermedius has been rarely collected, being known only from six collections." - Metz & Thompson, pg. 238
"Toxomerus teliger looks like aquilinus, but is separated from all other large species by its bare alula" - pg. 247
"Toxomerus tibicen is similar to aquilinus, intermedius and teliger in appearance but as discussed under those species it can be readily distinguished by its abdominal pattern and microtrichose alula" - pg. 249
If you're interested in looking into Toxomerus further:
Guide thing https://www.inaturalist.org/journal/upupa-epops/14985-identifying-toxomerus-hoverflies
Neotropical Toxomerus project https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/neotropical-toxomerus
Toxomerus in Florida project https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/toxomerus-in-florida
Best species photos of each species, and how often each are observed https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=any&subview=grid&taxon_id=58753&view=species
T. duplicatus group
This group contains all the Toxomerus with simple patterns of horizontal bars on the abdomen and usually a pair of commas on each abdomen section. Common species in this group are likely T. duplicatus and T. watsoni, however there are many other species with a similar pattern.
"Many species of Toxomerus present the same abdomen color pattern as Toxomerus duplicatus and the morphology of the male and female genitalia ... helps their segregation." - Borges & Couri 2009, pg. 32
Note that in some locations, such as Florida, observations may be identifiable to species by range.
Possible list of species that resemble this:
T. brevifacies
T. buscki
T. corbis/planiventris?
T. difficilis
T. duplicatus
T. ecuadoreus
T. idalius
T. minutus?
T. norma
T. papaveroi
T. paraduplicatus
T. pinchinchae
T. productus
T. puellus
T. steatogaster
T. taenius
T. watsoni
(draft, please let me know of any more or of any way to identify particular species)