Cheilosia bergenstammi explained

Cheilosia bergenstammi is a widespread European species of hoverfly. Adults can be found in summer visiting ragwort flowers and this plant is also the larval hostplant.^[1]

Description

External imagesFor terms see Morphology of Diptera
A moderately large (wing length 7·25-9 25 mm.), rather broadly-built brown species (abdomen elongate in males oval in females). Third segment of the antennae entirely reddish.Hind tibia 3 pale with black ring. Part of the Cheilosia bergenstammi species group and difficult to determine.^{[2] [3] [4] [5]} The larva is figured by Smith (1979) ^[6]

Distribution

Scandinavia South to the Pyrenees and North Spain. Ireland east through central Europe to European Russia.^{[7] [8]}

Biology

Habitat:open, grassy areas in coniferous and deciduous forest, eutrophic dune grassland; unimproved alpine pasture (the normal larval food-plant of Senecio jacobaea, is systematically removed from grassland grazed by cows and horses), edges of clearings, tracks and fields. Flowers visited include Allium, Caltha, Geranium, Hieracium, Primula, Ranunculus, Senecio, Taraxacum, umbellifers. The flight period is April to June and middle July to September.^{[9] [10]}

Notes and References

1. Book: Stubbs, Alan E. . Falk, Steven J.. 1983 . British Hoverflies: An Illustrated Identification Guide. 247, xvpp . British Entomological & Natural History Society.
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. pdf
6. Smith, K.G.V. (1979) The larva and puparium of Cheilosia bergenstammi Becker (Diptera: Syrphidae) with a summary of the known biology of the genus in Europe. Ent.Rec.J.Var., 91: 190-194.
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. de Buck, N. (1990) Bloembezoek en bestuivingsecologie van Zweefvliegen (Diptera, Syrphidae) in hetbijzonder voor België. Doc.Trav. IRSNB, no.60, 1-167.
10. Speight . M.C.D. . 2011 . Species accounts of European Syrphidae (Diptera). Syrph the Net, the Database of European Syrphidae . 65 . 285pp .