Neoascia geniculata explained

Neoascia geniculata is a Palearctic species of hoverfly.

Description

External imagesFor terms see Morphology of Diptera
The 3rd segment of the antenna is rounded-oval (length barely exceeding width). The hypopygium is clothed with white hairs. Abdomen blackish bronzy in male with fairly broad reddish yellowbands on tergite 3; in female bronzy with black dots over greater part of tergite 3 (latter character distinguishing female of N. geniculata Mg. from female of N. aenea Mg.). Surstyli elongated-oval. Body length 4.0 to 5.0 mm.^{[1] [2] [3] [4] [5]}

Distribution

Scandinavia South to central France. Ireland East through Central Europe, European Russia to Siberia.^{[6] [7]}

Habitat

Wetlands- acid fen, calcareous fen aapamire and raised bog.

Biology

Flies low among vegetation in May to SeptemberFlowers visited include white umbellifers, Alisma plantago-aquatica, Baldellia ranunculoides, Caltha palustris, Potentilla erecta, Ranunculus.^[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 .