Melangyna viridiceps is an Australian hoverfly, known as the common hover fly.
Description
It is one of the two most common hoverflies in Australia, alongside Simosyrphus grandicornis, with which it has often been confused, but can be distinguished by its all black thorax.
M. viridiceps has a body up to 1 cm in length.
Feeding The adult flies feed on pollen and nectar which they gather from flowers, while the larvae feed on aphids. (Note that while the text is correct, the photos are misidentified specimens of Simosyrphus)
Distribution It is found widely across Eastern Australia.
Some sources indicate that the species is also present in New Zealand, either on the Kermadec Islands only, or on both the Kermadecs and the mainland. Most recent sources,For example the does not list it for its New Zealand Regin (which includes the Kermadec Islands). however, do not record this species as being present outside of Australia. Miller's 1921 mention for the Kermadec was found to be a misidentification for Simosyrphus grandicornis, and Macfarlane et al. failed to cite specimens or published reports for their claim of the species' presence in the Kermadec.
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