Brachyopa insensilis explained

Brachyopa insensilis is a Palearctic species of hoverflies.^{[1] [2] [3] [4]}

Description

External imagesFor terms see Morphology of Diptera
The wing length is 6·5-7·25 mm. Apical antennomere small and without a sensory pit. Arista almost bare. Face less produced than in Brachyopa bicolor.^[5] Scutellum with microtrichia only on anterior margin. The larva is illustrated by Rotheray (1993).^[6]

Distribution

Brachyopa insensilis is a Palearctic species with a wide distribution in Europe^[7] and east to Tajikistan, Siberia, Russian Far East and Kamchatka.^[8]

The habitat is Abies, Quercus and Fagus forest with senile trees, but also occurs on old trees in suburban parks.^[9]

Behaviour

Brachyopa insensilis is arboreal descending to visit sap runs and flowers (white umbellifers, Photinia, Prunus padus, Sorbus aria.^[10] The flight period is from the beginning of May to the end of June. Brachyopa insensilis has a characteristic, rapid, zigzag flight and rarely descends lower than 3 metres from the ground. It may occur in small swarms around sap runs. Larvae feed in sap runs and rot holes.

External links

• Biolib

Notes and References

1. Book: Stubbs, Alan E. . Falk, Steven J. . amp . 1983 . British Hoverflies: An Illustrated Identification Guide . British Entomological & Natural History Society. 0-9502891-3-2. 2nd (revised). 271, xvpp .
2. Van Veen, M. (2004) Hoverflies of Northwest Europe: identification keys to the Syrphidae. 256pp. KNNV Publishing, Utrecht.
3. Van der Goot,V.S. (1981) De zweefvliegen van Noordwest - Europa en Europees Rusland, in het bijzonder van de Benelux. KNNV, Uitgave no.32: 275pp. Amsterdam.
4. Bei-Bienko, G.Y. & Steyskal, G.C. (1988) Keys to the Insects of the European Part of the USSR, Volume V: Diptera and Siphonaptera, Part I. Amerind Publishing Co., New Delhi. .
5. Coe, R.L. (1953) Diptera: Syrphidae. Handbks.ident.Br.insects, 10(1): 1-98. R.ent.Soc.London.
6. Rotheray G., 1993 Colour Guide to Hoverfly Larvae Diptera, Syrphidae in Britain and Europe Dipterists Forum pdf
7. [Fauna Europaea]
8. Peck, L.V. (1988) Syrphidae. In: Soos, A. & Papp, L. (eds.) Catalogue of Palaearctic Diptera, 8: 11-230. Akad.Kiado, Budapest.
9. Speight . M.C.D. . 2011 . Species accounts of European Syrphidae (Diptera). Syrph the Net, the database of European Syrphidae . 65 . 285pp .
10. de Buck, N. (1990) Bloembezoek en bestuivingsecologie van Zweefvliegen (Diptera, Syrphidae) in het bijzonder voor België. Doc. Trav. IRSNB, no. 60, p. 1-167.