Allograpta is a very large and diverse genus of hoverflies present throughout the world except most of the palearctic region. The adults are brightly coloured flower pollinators and most larvae have a predatory feeding mode involving soft-bodied sternorrhynchans. Certain species have diverged from this and their larvae have been found to be leaf-miners, stem-borers or pollen-feeders.[3]
Allograpta is currently being studied using both molecular and morphological methods to produce a robust phylogeny of the genus and its related genera. Preliminary studies show the genus to be monophyletic with the genera Sphaerophoria and Exallandra placed within which obviously complicates matters. A more complete review is needed before any major taxonomic changes can occur i.e. splitting the genus up or incorporating related genera,[1][4] though the former subgenus Fazia was elevated to genus in 2020.[5]
Allograpta is a very large and diverse genus of hoverflies present throughout the world except most of the palearctic region. The adults are brightly coloured flower pollinators and most larvae have a predatory feeding mode involving soft-bodied sternorrhynchans. Certain species have diverged from this and their larvae have been found to be leaf-miners, stem-borers or pollen-feeders.
Allograpta is currently being studied using both molecular and morphological methods to produce a robust phylogeny of the genus and its related genera. Preliminary studies show the genus to be monophyletic with the genera Sphaerophoria and Exallandra placed within which obviously complicates matters. A more complete review is needed before any major taxonomic changes can occur i.e. splitting the genus up or incorporating related genera, though the former subgenus Fazia was elevated to genus in 2020.
