Melanostoma fasciatum facts for kids

Melanostoma fasciatum is a type of hoverfly that lives in New Zealand. You can often find these flies in farms and gardens. They are very helpful because they eat tiny pests like aphids and small caterpillars. This makes them a natural way to protect plants without using harmful chemicals.

What is a Hoverfly?

Hoverflies are amazing insects that look a bit like bees or wasps. But don't worry, they can't sting! They get their name because they can hover in the air, staying in one spot like a tiny helicopter.

How Melanostoma fasciatum Was Named

This hoverfly was first described in 1850 by a scientist named Pierre-Justin-Marie Macquart. He first called it Plesia fasciata. Later, scientists realized that Plesia was another name for Melanostoma. So, the fly's name was changed to Melanostoma fasciatum. Another name, Melanostoma apertum, was also given to it in 1901, but it turned out to be the same species.

What Does it Look Like?

Adult Melanostoma fasciatum hoverflies are shiny black. They have three pairs of yellow spots on their body, which are found on three different parts of their abdomen. When they are resting, their wings fold neatly over their body. They also have big, dark red eyes.

Life Cycle: Larvae and Eggs

The young hoverflies, called larvae, don't have legs. When they first hatch from their eggs, they are very pale. As they grow and shed their skin, they become darker. The larvae have a special tube at their back end that helps them breathe.

The eggs of this hoverfly are white. They can be laid one by one or in small groups.

Where Do They Live?

Melanostoma fasciatum hoverflies are found only in New Zealand. They are common all over the country, but you might see more of them in the North Island. They like to live in places with low-growing plants, like grasslands, gardens, and especially farms.

What Do They Eat?

Larvae: Pest Controllers

When Melanostoma fasciatum are larvae, they are predators. This means they hunt and eat other small creatures. Their favorite foods are aphids and small caterpillars. Because they eat these pests, they are very useful for farmers and gardeners. They help keep crops healthy without needing lots of pesticides.

Adults: Pollen and Nectar Eaters

Adult Melanostoma fasciatum hoverflies mostly eat pollen from plants. They have been seen eating pollen from plants like Plantago lanceolota and Taraxacum (dandelions). They usually get the pollen right from the anther of the flower. They also drink nectar from various flowers, like those from Leptospermum and Daucus plants.

How They Help Farmers

Because the larvae of Melanostoma fasciatum eat pests, these hoverflies are considered a helpful natural way to control insects. This is called biocontrol.

For example, in New Zealand, potato crops can be harmed by a tiny insect called Bactericera cockerelli. This insect can spread diseases to potatoes, causing a problem called zebra chip disease. Scientists think that M. fasciatum could help control the numbers of B. cockerelli, which would reduce the potato disease.

It has also been suggested that planting Coriandrum sativum (coriander) near cabbage plants might attract M. fasciatum. This could help protect the cabbage from pests. However, more research is needed to fully understand how effective these methods are.