Criorhina floccosa explained

Criorhina floccosa, is a species of hoverfly. It is found in many parts of the Palearctic including Europe.^[1]

The larvae of C. floccosa are associated with rotting deciduous wood. Adults are usually found in woodland with overmature trees and are seen visiting flowers to feed.^[2]

Description

External imagesFor terms see Morphology of Diptera
A large, broad, bumblebee mimic (wing length 10–13 mm.), densely yellow, fox red or yellow and black pilose. Tergite 2 with distinct side tufts of long yellow hairs. Tergites 3 and 4 with short, dense reddish or tawny pile and dust, not obscuring the ground-colour. Tibia 1 and 2 with pale, adpressed, short hairs.^{[3] [4] [5] [6]} The larva is illustrated by Rotheray (1993) ^[7]

Distribution

Palaearctic. South Sweden and Denmark South to the Pyrenees from Ireland eastwards to European Russia as far as the Caucasus^{[8] [9]}

Biology

Habitat: Fagus and Quercus ancient woodland with over-mature and senescent trees.^[10] Arboreal, but descends to visit flowers of white umbellifers, Cornus sanguinea, Crataegus, Photinia, Prunus spinosa, Ribes alpina, Rubus idaeus, Sorbus aucuparia, Sorbus aria.^[11] The flight period is from the beginning of April to the beginning of July.

See also

Other bumblebee mimics are Mallota, Arctophila, Pocota and Brachypalpus. Criorhina differ from these genera in the form of the antennae.

External links

• Biolib

Notes and References

1. Book: Stubbs, Alan E. . Falk, Steven J . British Hoverflies: An Illustrated Identification Guide . 2nd . 1983 . . London . 1-899935-03-7 . 253, xvpp .
2. Book: Ball, S.G. . Morris, R.K.A. . Provisional atlas of British hoverflies (Diptera, Syrphidae) . 2000 . . Monks Wood, UK . 1-870393-54-6 . 167 pages .
3. Van Veen, M. (2004) Hoverflies of Northwest Europe: identification keys to the Syrphidae. 256pp. KNNV Publishing, Utrecht.addendum
4. 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.
5. 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. .
6. Coe, R.L. (1953) Diptera: Syrphidae. Handbks.ident.Br.insects, 10(1): 1-98. R.ent.Soc.London. pdf
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 .
11. de Buck, N. (1990) Bloembezoek en bestuivingsecologie van Zweefvliegen (Diptera, Syrphidae) in het bijzonder voor België. Doc.Trav. IRSNB, no.60, 1–167.