Kingdom Animalia Class Insecta Family Syrphidae Scientific name Eristalis horticola | Phylum Arthropoda Order Diptera Genus Eristalis Rank Species | |
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Similar Eristalis arbustorum, Eristalis intricarius, Eristalis pertinax, Xylota segnis, Melanostoma scalare | ||
Eristalis horticola eristalis lineata syrphidae diptera
Eristalis horticola is a Palearctic species of hoverfly. The name horticola is in some doubt and an ICZN decision is required.
Contents
The hoverfly eristalis horticola on devilsbit scabious
Description
External images For terms see Morphology of Diptera
Wing length 8·25-11·5 mm. Face pale dusted, black median stripe broad.Antennomere 3 brown-black.Tergite 2 dull, even on the yellow spots.All Abdominal spots yellowish. Wing with dark clouding, more developed in the female.Femur 3 pale at the base in male and for basal half in female. The larva is aquatic.
Distribution
Palaearctic Fennoscandia South to the Mediterranean basin and North Africa.Ireland East through Europe into Russia and the Russian Far East, through Siberia to the Pacific coast (Sakhalin). India.
Biology
The habitat is wetland, deciduous forest, temperate coniferous forests, boreal forests, taiga, montane tundra, fen, cut-over valley bog, margins of pools, streams and rivers. Flowers visited include yellow composites; white umbellifers, Compositae, Ranunculaceae, Umbelliferae, Calluna vulgaris, Cardamine, Cirsium, Crataegus, Eupatorium, Galium, Jasione, Pyrus communis, Ranunculus, Rubus fruticosus, Rubus idaeus, Sambucus, Sorbus aucuparia, Stellaria, Succisa, Viburnum opulus. Flies May to September.