Toxomerus marginatus
| Toxomerus marginatus | |
|---|---|
| Toxomerus marginatus female | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Diptera |
| Family: | Syrphidae |
| Genus: | Toxomerus |
| Species: | T. marginatus |
| Binomial name | |
| Toxomerus marginatus (Say, 1823) | |
| Synonyms | |
Toxomerus marginatus, also known as the margined calligrapher fly, is a common species of hoverfly. It is found in many parts of North America.
The larvae are predators of thrips, aphids, and small caterpillars. Adults feed on a wide range of flowers. Smith & Chaney 2007 finds T. marginatus is the most numerous of the Syrphidae species controlling aphids in lettuce fields on California's Central Coast.Toxomerus marginatus are commonly found in cranberry fields. This species of syrphid is highly attracted to the plant volatile methyl salicylate, which is a floral compound as well as being an herbivore-induced plant volatile.