Melanogaster aerosa explained

Melanogaster aerosa is a Palearctic hoverfly.

Taxonomy

This species appears in recent literature as well as older literature under the name Chrysogaster macquarti.

Description

External imagesFor terms see Morphology of Diptera
Males: The margin of mouth and apex of the median tubercle of face almost in the same vertical plane. Females: mesonotum with short but dense hairs; abdomen on upper side in middle part matt black. Body length 6.0 to 7.0.mm.^{[1] [2] [3] [4] [5]}

Habitat

Wetlands including flushes, pools and small streams in moorland.

Biology

Flies among waterside vegetation from May to September,. Flowers visited include Cirsium, Hieracium, Leontodon.^[6]

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. Speight . M.C.D. . 2011 . Species accounts of European Syrphidae (Diptera). Syrph the Net, the database of European Syrphidae . 65 . 285pp .