Scientific name - Taxonomic position - Diagnosis - Images - Distribution - Prey / Biology - References 

Scientific name

Paragus yerburiensis Stuckenberg

Taxonomic position

Diptera: Brachycera: Cyclorrhapha: Syrphidae: Syrphinae: Paragini

Diagnosis

Very similar to P. serratus, but can be easily distinguished by the presence of a transverse, conspicuous black band across nearly the whole of the first abdominal tergite in both sexes (Fig. 1), second tergite yellowish, remaining tergites more or less black with white posterior margins. Scutellum with posterior margin conspicuously serrate, the apices of the serrations somewhat dark brown to black. Abdomen in male truncate, each posterior margin prominent, protruding and rounded. Hind legs with femora black except for the apices.

    Fig. 1. Abdomen

Images

       

Adult male - Dorsal view

   

Abdominal tip, ventral view: Female and male

Distribution

Widely distributed in India; Sri Lanka; Nepal. 

Prey / Biology

Aphis craccivora Koch on cowpea and other crops. Joshi et al. (2000) worked out the life table of P. yerburiensis. 

References

	Brunetti, E. 1923. The Fauna of British India, including Ceylon and Burma. Diptera. Volume 3. Pipunculidae, Syrphidae, Conopidae, Oestridae. xii+424 p. Taylor & Francis, London.
	Ghorpade, K. 1981. Insect prey of Syrphidae (Diptera) from India and neighbouring countries: a review and bibliography. Tropical Pest Management, 27: 62-82.
	Ghorpade, K. 1994. Diagnostic keys to new and known genera and species of Indian subcontinent Syrphini (Diptera: Syrphidae). Colemania 3: 1-15.
	Joshi, S., Ballal, C.R. and Rao, N.S. 2000. The age specific life-table of Paragus serratus (Fabricius) and Paragus yerburiensis Stuckenberg (Diptera: Syrphidae), predators of Aphis craccivora Koch (Homoptera: Aphididae). Journal of Aphidology, 14: 67-72.