Ornidia obesa (Fabricius, 1775)

Fig. 143

Syrphus obesa Fabricius, 1775: 763

Type locality and data. “ West Indies, Virgin Is., St. Croix [as “America”]” (LT, ♂, UZMC) .

Material examined. Arica y Parinacota: 1♂, Parinacota, 27.II.2017, Leg. L.E. Peña (PCBRS); 1♂, Putre, 27.III.2017, Leg. R. Barahona-Segovia (PCRBS) .

References. Fabricius, 1775: 763 (desc.); Macquart, 1842: 21 (distr.); Thompson, 1972b: 96, 106, fig. 16 (head, lateral, male), fig. 25 (wing) ( Milesiinae rev.); Thompson, 1991: 256 (desc.); Thompson et al., 2010: 789 (rev.); Miranda & Moran 2016: 15, figs 36–48, 32, 34 (female terminalia).

World distribution. Originally from southern U.S.A. to northern Argentina and Chile. It has been introduced to Afrotropical (Madagascar), Oriental and Oceania regions.

Chilean distribution. Only recorded from Arica y Parinacota region (Fig. 147).

Altitudinal range. Highland ecosystems (3,650–4,500 m.a.s.l.) .

Biology and notes. Ornidia obesa is widely distributed from the USA to northern Chile and Argentina. In the Neotropical region, the species is associated with several disturbed ecosystems due to its synanthropic behavior. It is important to notice that this species is usually distributed in low and middle elevations except for Chile where it seems to be restricted to highlands. Larvae are saprophagous of decaying plant species, fruits and non-woody plants. In addition, this species could be associated with animal waste and dung (Rotheray et al., 2006). In Chile, adults have been recorded visiting flowers of Aldama helianthoides (Rich.) E.E. Schill. & Panero (Rodrigo Barahona-Segovia pers. obs.)

Conservation status. LC; AOO = 8 km 2 and two localities (or subpopulations). This species is widely distributed in the New World.