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]
^ abcMengual, Ximo; Ståhls, Gunilla; Rojo, Santos (2008). "Molecular phylogeny of Allograpta (Diptera, Syrphidae) reveals diversity of lineages and non-monophyly of phytophagous taxa". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 49 (3). Elsevier: 715–727. Bibcode:2008MolPE..49..715M. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2008.09.011. PMID18848633.
^ abcdefghijklmSmith, Kenneth G.V.; Vockeroth, J.R. (1980). Crosskey, R.W. (ed.). Catalogue of the Diptera of the Afrotropical Region (Print). London: British museum (Natural History). ISBN0565-00821-8.
^Ximo Mengual, Gunilla Ståhls & Jeffrey H. Skevington (2021) Life on an island: the phylogenetic placement of Loveridgeana and Afrotropical Sphaerophoria (Diptera: Syrphidae) inferred from molecular characters, Systematics and Biodiversity, 19:1, 22-53, DOI: 10.1080/14772000.2020.1795743
^Marinoni, Luciane; Thompson, F. Christian (2003). "Flower flies of southeastern Brazil (Diptera: Syrphidae) Part I. Introduction and new species". Studia dipterologica. 10 (2): 565–578. ISSN0945-3954.