Which of the following statements about the recent discovery of flower fly species in Kerala is incorrect?

Solution

Option A is correct. Mesembrius bengalensis and M. quadrivittatus were indeed discovered in the Kole wetlands and Vilagan Kunnu hillocks of Thrissur district. Option B is correct. The discovery was led by researchers from the Shadpada Entomology Research Lab ( SERL) at Christ College, Irinjalakuda. Option C is correct. Flower flies belong to the family Syrphidae and play crucial roles as pollinators, with their larvae serving as biological control agents and nutrient recyclers. Option D is correct. The research on these species' discovery was published in the journal ENTOMON, which previously recorded 59 species of flower flies in Kerala. Option E is incorrect. The genus Mesembrius Rondani comprises about 58 species across various regions, including the Oriental, Australasian, and Afrotropical regions, and the Mediterranean Basin of the Palaearctic Region.