Anasimyia contracta explained

Anasimyia contracta is a European species of hoverfly.^{[1] [2] [3]}

Description

The wing length 5 to 7.5 mm. Tergite 2 is narrower than it is long and it has greyish 'hockey stick' shaped markings. A. transfuga has similar markings but with tergite 2 parallel sided and wider than long.

Habits

A wetland species found near ponds with Typha, especially in fens. Flowers visited include white umbellifers, Menyanthes, Ranunculus, Myosotis, Potentilla palustris, Sorbus aucuparia and Potentilla palustris ^{[4] [5]} The larva has been found among debris of dead Typha stalks beneath the water surface.

Distribution

West Palearctic Ireland eastwards through central Europe to European Russia.^{[6] [7]}

Notes and References

1. Book: Stubbs, Alan E. . Falk, Steven J. . British Hoverflies: An Illustrated Identification Guide . 2nd . 1983 . . London . 1-899935-03-7 . 253, xvpp .
2. Book: Ball, S.G. . Morris, R.K.A. . Provisional atlas of British hoverflies (Diptera, Syrphidae) . 2000 . Biological Record Centre . Monks Wood, UK . 1-870393-54-6 . 167 pages .
3. Book: Van Veen, M.P. . Hoverflies of Northwest Europe, Identification Keys to the Syrphidae . hardback . 2004 . KNNV Publishing . Utrecht . 90-5011-199-8 . 254 .
4. de Buck, N. (1990) Bloembezoek en bestuivingsecologie van Zweefvliegen (Diptera, Syrphidae) in het bijzonder voor België. Doc.Trav. IRSNB, no.60, 1-167.
5. Speight . M.C.D. . 2011 . Species accounts of European Syrphidae (Diptera). Syrph the Net, the Database of European Syrphidae . 65 . 285pp .
6. [Fauna Europaea]
7. Bei-Bienko, G.Y. & Steyskal, G.C. (1988a) Keys to the Insects of the European Part of the USSR, Volume V: Diptera and Siphonaptera, Part I. Amerind Publishing Co., New Delhi. .