Cheilosia semifasciata explained

Cheilosia semifasciata is a Palearctic hoverfly.

Description

External images For terms see Morphology of Diptera
Cheilosia semifasciata has a very low facial knob, (in line with the bottom of the eyes), hairy eyes, dark legs with pale knees and dark antennae. Males have square grey dust spots each side of tergites 2 to 5.See Schmid, U. (2000) for certain determination^{[1] [2] [3] [4]} The larva is described and figured by Rotheray (1994).^[5]

Distribution

Norway and Finland South to northern France. From Ireland East across mountains of Central Europe, Romania and Bulgaria.^{[6] [7]}

Habitats

Scree slopes, cliffs and rock outcrops up to 2000m.^[8] and gardens where the host plants are cultivated.

Biology

A leaf miner of Saxifraga, Sedum and Umbilicus. Adults visit the flowers of Alliaria petiolata, Allium ursinum, Anemone nemorosa, Prunus spinosa, Ranunculus, Salix, Taraxacum and Vaccinium myrtillus flying in March to early June.

Notes and References

1. Schmid, U. (2000). Cheilosia rhodiolae spec.nov. - Taxonomie und Ökologie einer alpinen Schwebfliege (Diptera, Syrphidae) aus der Cheilosia fasciata-Gruppe. Volucella, 5: 15-50.
2. 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.
3. 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 .
4. [Fauna Europaea]
5. Rotheray G., 1993 Colour Guide to Hoverfly Larvae Diptera, Syrphidae in Britain and Europe Dipterists Forum pdf
6. [Fauna Europaea]
7. Peck, L.V. (1988) Syrphidae. In: Soos, A. & Papp, L. (eds.) Catalogue of Palaearctic Diptera, 8: 11-230. Akad.Kiado, Budapest.
8. Speight . M.C.D. . 2011 . Species accounts of European Syrphidae (Diptera). Syrph the Net, the database of European Syrphidae . 65 . 285pp .