- Source: Helophilus antipodus
Helophilus antipodus is a endemic species of hoverfly observed throughout New Zealand . It belongs to the genus Helophilus in the family Syrphidae (flower flies). The adults are pollinators.
Taxonomy
This species was first described by Schiner in 1868 from a single female from Auckland New Zealand. In 1901, Hutton named this species as Helophilus vicinus using male specimens from Chatham Islands. In 1909, Lamb used a female specimen from Campbell islands to describe Helophilus interruptus. In 1921, Miller clarified that there was just one species; Helophilus antipodus.
Description
Front tibia is yellow, with a black ring at the end. Hind femur are all black. Wing-viens black, and slightly infusecate. Campared with Helophilus montanus, their Lateral ocelli is closer to eyes than to each other; oral margin is not strongly produced; they are larger and more robust flies. Similar in appearance to the New Zealand three-lined hoverfly (Helophilus seelandicus)
Distribution
Helophilus antipodus is found over much of New Zealand including many subantartic Islands (Auckland Islands, Campbell islands).
On the mainland this fly is a pollinator of the endemic orchid Dendrobium cunninghamii.
