Kingdom Animalia Class Insecta Family Syrphidae Rank Species | Phylum Arthropoda Order Diptera Genus Criorhina | |
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Similar Criorhina, Criorhina asilica, Criorhina floccosa, Brachypalpoides lentus, Cheilosia grossa | ||
Criorhina ranunculi syrphidae diptera diaporama
Criorhina ranunculi, is a species of hoverfly. It is found in the spring in many parts of Britain and Europe.
Contents
- Criorhina ranunculi syrphidae diptera diaporama
- Criorhina ranunculi male
- Description
- Distribution
- Biology
- References
The larvae of C. ranunculi are associated with rotting deciduous wood. Adults are remarkable bumblebee mimics and are usually found in woodland in springtime visiting flowers such as sallow to feed.
Criorhina ranunculi male
Description
External images For terms see Morphology of Diptera
Large (wing length 11ยท25-14 mm.) bumblebee mimic.Thorax and abdomen with long, dense hairs.Hairs black on thorax and basal part of abdomen red or yellowish on tip of abdomen. Scutellar hairs may be pale yellow or brownish.Hind femora considerably thickened, especially in males. Hind tibiae sickle-shaped.
Distribution
Palaearctic.South Norway and South Sweden southwards to central Spain.Ireland eastwards through central Europe into European parts of Russia.
Biology
Habitat:Betula, Fagus and Quercus forest with overmature trees. Adults are primarily arboreal, but descend to visit flowering shrubs in sun-lit glades. Flies extremely fast, with a highpitched whine, zig-zagging between the branches of flowering trees. Flowers visited include Cardamine pratensis, Cornus sanguinea, Crataegus, Photinia, Prunus cerasus, Prunus spinosa, Rubus, Salix, Sorbus aucuparia. The flight period is from the beginning of March to mid May (later at higher altitudes).