Cheilosia velutina explained

Cheilosia velutina is a Palearctic hoverfly.

Description

External imagesFor terms see Morphology of Diptera
Cheilosia velutina has the face swollen but the moderately glossy central knob poorly developed (flat) and the upper mouth-edge is vertical. Ihe face has a dense grey coating. Tergite 2 of the female has an undulating band of adpressed whitish hairs, tergites 3 and 4 also have pale hair bands. Eyes in upper half with light-colored hairs.^{[1] [2] [3] [4] [5]}

Distribution

Scandinavia South to Spain and Ireland East through Europe into Russia, and on through Siberia and the Russian Far East.^{[6] [7]}

Habitat

Deciduous forest, scrub and unimproved grassland.

Biology

Males hover up to 5m. near trees and shrubs, beside streams and tracks; both sexes settle on foliage up to 5m. Flight is low, very fast and very direct. Flowers visited include Achillea, Anemone nemorosa, Anthemis, Bellis, Caltha, Chrysanthemum, Galium, Potentilla erecta, Prunus spinosa, Ranunculus, Rorippa andRanunculus. Flies July to August. The larva mines the stems of Cirsium palustre and the rhizome of Scrophularia nodosa.^[8]

Notes and References

1. 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.
2. 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 .
3. 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. .
4. Van Veen, M. (2004) Hoverflies of Northwest Europe: identification keys to the Syrphidae. 256pp. KNNV Publishing, Utrecht.addendum
5. Coe, R.L. (1953) Diptera: Syrphidae. Handbks. ident. Br. insects, 10(1): 1-98. R. Ent. Soc. London. 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 .