Cheilosia scutellata explained

Cheilosia scutellata is a Palearctic hoverfly.

Description

For terms see Morphology of Diptera
Eyes and face glabrous. Fused antennal pits.3rd segment of antenna black or dark yellowish brown. Arista with distinct short hairs. Rather long wings and alar base transparent (not yellow). Median facial tubercle broad, developed across full width of face. Mesonotum with minuteblack punctation. Partially red legs.^[1] Identification via Van Veen, Van der Goot and, Stubbs and Falk, Coe^{[2] [3] [4]} The larva is described and figured by Rotheray (1994).^{[5] [6] [7]}

Distribution

Fennoscandia South to Iberia and the Mediterranean basin to Greece, Turkey. North Africa. Ireland east to Russian Far East to the Pacific coast.^{[8] [9]}

Habitat

Forest in the North and maquis in the South.

Biology

Found on low-growing vegetation also along tracks and at the edges of clearings. Flowers visited include Chaerophyllum, Cirsium, Cistus, Crataegus, Galium, Hedera, Hieracium, Ranunculus and Sorbus. FliesMay to September North Europe and April to November) in South Europe. The larva feeds on basidiomycete fungi, especially Boletus and Suillus.^[10]

Notes and References

1. 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. .
2. Van Veen, M. (2004) Hoverflies of Northwest Europe: identification keys to the Syrphidae. 256pp. KNNV Publishing, Utrecht.addendum
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. Coe, R.L. (1953) Diptera: Syrphidae. Handbks.ident.Br.insects, 10(1): 1-98. R.ent.Soc.London. pdf
5. 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 .
6. [Fauna Europaea]
7. Rotheray G., 1993 Colour Guide to Hoverfly Larvae Diptera, Syrphidae in Britain and Europe Dipterists Forum pdf
8. [Fauna Europaea]
9. Peck, L.V. (1988) Syrphidae. In: Soos, A. & Papp, L. (eds.) Catalogue of Palaearctic Diptera, 8: 11-230. Akad.Kiado, Budapest.
10. Speight . M.C.D. . 2011 . Species accounts of European Syrphidae (Diptera). Syrph the Net, the database of European Syrphidae . 65 . 285pp .