Family Syrphidae | Order Diptera Genus Myathropa Rank Species | |
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Similar Myathropa, Eristalis arbustorum, Helophilus trivittatus, Helophilus pendulus, Helophilus | ||
Myathropa florea
Myathropa florea is a very common European and North African species of hoverfly. Adults may be seen on flowers from May to September. It is of similar size as the drone fly, but living Myathropa are generally more yellow, with two light bands to the thorax, interrupted with a black central smudge. In museum specimens, any yellow colour soon fades to brown after death. Like most Eristalini, Myathropa are rather variable in size, shape and colour.
Contents
Myathropa florea hoverfly ovipositing
Description
External images For terms see Morphology of Diptera
Wing length 7-12 mm Thorax dorsum with a characteristic "skull" black pattern. Abdomen black with yellow patterning.Legs pale and black.Larva described and figured by Rotheray (1994). .See references for determination.
Distribution
Palearctic from Fennoscandia South to Iberia and the Mediterranean basin.From Ireland eastwards across Europe and Russia to the Pacific coast.
Biology
Deciduous forest; also in fen carr, farmland with trees, parks and gardens.Flowers visited include white umbellifers Castanea, Convolvulus, Crataegus, Chaerophyllum, Euonymus, Filipendula, Hedera, Rhododendron, Rubus, Sambucus, Solidago, Sorbus, Viburnum opulus. The flight period is May to October. Larvae feed on bacteria in organic waterlogged detritus, often in the shallow rot holes of tree stumps.
