# Stipomorpha

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***Stipomorpha*** is a [genus](/source/Genus) of [hoverflies (Syrphidae)](/source/Hoverfly). Restricted to the [Neotropical region](/source/Neotropical_realm), with records ranging from [Argentina](/source/Argentina) to [Costa Rica](/source/Costa_Rica), the genus is one of several [Microdontinae](/source/Microdontinae) that [mimic](/source/Mimicry) [stingless bees](/source/Stingless_bee), with a brush-like pilosity on the hind-[tibia](/source/Tibia_(arthropod)),[1] superficially resembling the [corbicula](/source/Pollen_basket) of Meliponini. They are distinguished from other stingless bee mimic syrphids by having unusually wide membranous parts between [sternites](/source/Sternites) 2 and 3.[1]

## Morphology

With a body length of 6-11 mm, the genus can be differentiated from other Microdontinae stingless bee mimics by the presence of an unusually wide membranous parts between sternites 2 and 3 (sometimes hard to see in dry specimens) and an unfurcate [aedeagus](/source/Aedeagus).[1] Other diagnostic characteristics are the [face](/source/Insect_head), narrower than or as wide as one [eye](/source/Insect_eye) (apparently bare) in frontal view, except wider in *S.wheeleri*.[1] The head also present a dorsally wide [occiput](/source/Occiput_(insect)) and ventrally narrow.[1] The [scutellum](/source/Scutellum_(insect_anatomy)) is always semicircular, but never sulcate.[1] The [wings](/source/Insect_wing) present an appendix from [vein R4+5](/source/Wing_venation) (often absent in one or both wings), and the subcostal vein joins the costal vein at the same level as or proximal to the [radial-medial crossvein](/source/Cross_vein).[1] The abdomen, with an isosceles triangle format,[2] presents a fusion between [tergites](/source/Tergites) 3 and 4, and sternite 1 is bare.[1] The hypandrium is basally bulged in the genus.[1]

## Mimicry and myrmecophily

*Stipomorpha* adults resemble Meliponini bees, such as [Trigona](/source/Trigona) and [Tetragona](/source/Tetragona) species,[1] while larvae are [myrmecophiles](/source/Myrmecophily), living in [ant](/source/Ant) nests of different species, probably predating on ant brood.[3] Only two associations of *Stipomorpha* species with a specific ant species are described, both with ants from the genus *[Crematogaster](/source/Crematogaster)*. The first one was made by [Mann](/source/William_M._Mann) in 1928,[4] associating *Stipomorpha wheeleri* (Mann, 1928) with a *[Crematogaster torosa](/source/Crematogaster_torosa)* [Mayr](/source/Gustav_Mayr), 1870 nest, while the second one was only made in 2013[3] by Reemer, associating the same species with a *[Crematogaster crinosa](/source/Crematogaster_crinosa)* Mayr, 1862 nest. Reemer also described the species *Stipomorpha crematogastri* Reemer, 2013, but the adult holotype collected by [Owain W. Richards](/source/Owain_Richards), in 1968, and the empty puparium associated with it were accompanied only by a label containing "bred nest / *Crematogaster*", not specifying the species *S. crematogastri* was associated with.[1]

## Taxonomic history

Originally, the first described *Stipomorpha* species were grouped in the genus *[Microdon](/source/Microdon)* [Meigen](/source/Johann_Wilhelm_Meigen), 1803.[5] Only in 1945, [Hull](/source/Frank_Montgomery_Hull) erected *Stipomorpha* as a subgenus of *Microdon*, based on the shape of the abdomen, especially for the first two segments being flared and wider than the thorax.[6] A few years later, the same author included *Stipomorpha* as a subgenus of *Paramixogasteroides* Shiraki, 1930 (a junior synonym of the genus *[Paramixogaster](/source/Paramixogaster)* Brunetti, 1923), with no morphological support for the change. Other authors have regarded *Stipomorpha* as a synonym of *[Ubristes](/source/Ubristes)* *[Walker](/source/Francis_Walker_(entomologist))*, 1852, sometimes placing it as a subgenus of *Microdon*,[7] sometimes as its own genus.[8][9] In 2013, Reemer and Ståhls erected the genus (*[status novus](/source/Glossary_of_scientific_naming)*) once again, placing 16 species together and designating *Microdon fraudator* (*Stipomorpha fraudator*) as its [type species](/source/Type_species).[2] Months later, Reemer also described 9 new species, bringing the current total of 25 described species.[1]

## Species

The following species are assigned to this genus:[10]

## References

1. Reemer, Menno (2013-08-09). ["Taxonomic exploration of Neotropical Microdontinae (Diptera: Syrphidae) mimicking stingless bees"](https://www.mapress.com/zt/article/view/zootaxa.3697.1.1). *Zootaxa*. **3697** (1): 1–88. [doi:10.11646/zootaxa.3697.1.1](https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3697.1.1). [PMID 26079022](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26079022)

1. Reemer, Menno & Ståhls, Gunilla (2013-04-12). "Generic revision and species classification of the Microdontinae (Diptera, Syrphidae)". *ZooKeys*. '***(288): 1–213. [Bibcode:2013ZooK..288....1R](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2013ZooK..288....1R). [doi:10.3897/zookeys.288.4095](https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.288.4095). [ISSN 1313-2970](https://www.worldcat.org/issn/1313-2970). [PMC 3690914](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3690914). [PMID 23798897](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23798897)***

1. Reemer, Menno (2013). "Review and Phylogenetic Evaluation of Associations between Microdontinae (Diptera: Syrphidae) and Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)". *Psyche: A Journal of Entomology*. **2013**: 1–9. [doi:10.1155/2013/538316](https://doi.org/10.1155/2013/538316)

1. Mann, William Montana (1928). "II. A New Microdon From Panama". *Psyche: A Journal of Entomology*. **35** (3): 168–170. [doi:10.1155/1928/73806](https://doi.org/10.1155/1928/73806)

1. Curran, Charles Howard (1925). ["XLIV.—New American Diptera.—II."](https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00222932508633318). *Annals and Magazine of Natural History*. **16** (93): 338–354. [doi:10.1080/00222932508633318](https://doi.org/10.1080/00222932508633318)

1. Hull, Frank Montgomery (1945). "Some undescribed syrphid flies". *Proceedings of the New England Zoological Club*. **23**: 71–78.

1. Shannon, Raymond Corbett (1927). ["A review of the South American two-winged flies of the family Syrphidae"](http://hdl.handle.net/10088/15696). *Proceedings of the United States National Museum*. **70** (2658): 1–33. [doi:10.5479/si.00963801.70-2658.1](https://doi.org/10.5479/si.00963801.70-2658.1). [hdl:10088/15696](https://hdl.handle.net/10088/15696)

1. Papavero, Nelson (1964-07-22). ["Descrição de uma nova espécie de Ubristes Walker, 1852 (Diptera, Syrphidae, Microdontinae)"](https://revistas.usp.br/paz/article/view/209085) (in Brazilian Portuguese). *Papéis Avulsos de Zoologia*. **16** (1–27): 21–25. [doi:10.11606/0031-1049.1964.16p21-25](https://doi.org/10.11606/0031-1049.1964.16p21-25). [ISSN 1807-0205](https://www.worldcat.org/issn/1807-0205). – via Portal de Revistas da USP.

1. van Doesburg Sr., Pieter H (1966-01-01). ["Syrphidae from Suriname"](https://repository.naturalis.nl/pub/506270). *Studies on the Fauna of Suriname and Other Guyanas*. **9** (1): 61–107. [ISSN 0300-5488](https://www.worldcat.org/issn/0300-5488). – via Naturalis Biodiversity Center.

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