Epistrophe eligans explained

Epistrophe eligans is a European species of hoverfly.^{[1] [2] [3] [4]}

Description

External imagesFor terms see Morphology of Diptera
Wing length 6·25-9·5 mm. Eyes bare. Stigma pale yellow. Tergite 4 with smaller yellow markings than tergite 3 or tergite 4 black.^{[4] [5] [6] [7]} The larva is illustrated by Rotheray (1993) ^[8] The male genitalia are figured by Dusek and Laska (1967).^[9]

Distribution

Palaearctic.^[10] South Sweden to Iberia. Ireland East through Central and South Europe into Turkey and European Russia as far as the Caucasus.^[11]

Biology

The habitat is deciduous woodland and scrub, suburban gardens, parks.^[12] Found by tracksides, clearings. Flowers visited include white umbellifers, Acer pseudoplatanus, Cistus, Crataegus, Endymion, Euonymus, Euphorbia, Ilex, Prunus spinosa, Stellaria, Viburnum opulus.^[13] The flight period is April to June (earlier in southern areas, later at higher altitudes and northerly latitudes). The larva is aphid feeding on shrubs and trees.

Notes and References

1. Book: Ball . S.G. . Morris . R.K.A.. Provisional atlas of British hoverflies (Diptera, Syrphidae) . 2000 . Biological Record Centre . Monks Wood, UK . 1-870393-54-6 . 167 pages .
2. Book: Morris, Roger K. A.. 1999 . Hoverflies of Surrey . Surrey Wildlife Trust. 0-9526065-3-4 . 244.
3. Book: Stubbs, Alan E. . Falk, Steven J.. 1983 . British Hoverflies: An Illustrated Identification Guide . British Entomological & Natural History Society. 253, xvpp.
4. Book: Van Veen, M.P. . Hoverflies of Northwest Europe, Identification Keys to the Syrphidae . hardback . 2004 . KNNV Publishing . Utrecht . 90-5011-199-8 . 254 .
5. 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.
6. 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. .
7. Coe, R.L. (1953) Diptera: Syrphidae. Handbks.ident.Br.insects, 10(1): 1-98. R.ent.Soc.London. pdf
8. Rotheray G., 1993 Colour Guide to Hoverfly Larvae Diptera, Syrphidae in Britain and Europe Dipterists Forum pdf
9. Dusek, J. & Laska, P. (1967) Versuch zum aufbau eines Naturlichen Systems mitteleuropaischer Arten der Unterfamilie Syrphinae (Diptera). Acta sc.nat.Brno, 1: 349-390.
10. Web site: Epistrophe eligans (Harris, 1780) . Fauna Europaea . 5 February 2020.
11. Peck, L.V. (1988) Syrphidae. In: Soos, A. & Papp, L. (eds.) Catalogue of Palaearctic Diptera, 8: 11-230. Akad.Kiado, Budapest.
12. Speight . M.C.D. . 2011 . Species accounts of European Syrphidae (Diptera). Syrph the Net, the Database of European Syrphidae . 65 . 285pp .
13. de Buck, N. (1990) Bloembezoek en bestuivingsecologie van Zweefvliegen (Diptera, Syrphidae) in hetbijzonder voor België. Doc.Trav. IRSNB, no.60, 1-167.