Platycheirus ambiguus

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Platycheirus ambiguus
Platycheirus ambiguus 02.JPG
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Class:
Insecta
Order:
Diptera
Family:
Syrphidae
Genus:
Platycheirus
Subgenus:
Pachysphyria
Species:
P. ambiguus
Binomial name
Platycheirus ambiguus
(Fallén, 1817)
Synonyms

Platycheirus ambiguus is a small widespread species of hoverfly found across the Palearctic from Ireland to Japan. A spring species found in flight in April and May, it visits spring-flowering trees and shrubs; e.g., Prunus spinosa in deciduous woodland and scrub.

Contents

The species is similar to several other small hoverflies and can be problematic to identify.

The larvae feed on aphids in various trees and shrubs. [1] [2] [3]

Description

External images For terms, see: Morphology of Diptera.
Haltere knob is grey brown. Frons have heavy silver-grey dusting. Tergites are marked with yellow but heavily silver-grey dusted. See references for determination. [4] [5] [6] [7] [8]

Distribution

Palearctic: Fennoscandia south to Spain, Ireland east through Europe on to the Russian Far East and the Pacific coast, including Japan. [9] [10] [11]

Habitat: Ireland. FloraHilden.JPG
Habitat: Ireland.

Biology

Habitat: deciduous forest scrub, garrigue, hedgerows and gardens. Flies April to end of May. [12]

Related Research Articles

<i>Platycheirus clypeatus</i> Species of fly

Platycheirus clypeatus is a species of hoverfly. It is found across the Palearctic and in the Nearctic. The larvae feed on aphids. Adults are usually found on the edges of woodland or scrub, heath or along hedgerows where they visit a wide range of flowers.

<i>Platycheirus scambus</i> Species of fly

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<i>Platycheirus peltatus</i> Species of fly

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<i>Platycheirus scutatus</i> Species of fly

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<i>Platycheirus albimanus</i> Species of fly

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<i>Platycheirus manicatus</i> Species of fly

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<i>Platycheirus rosarum</i> Species of fly

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<i>Riponnensia splendens</i> Species of fly

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Anasimyia transfuga is a Palearctic species of hoverfly.

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<i>Platycheirus angustatus</i> Species of fly

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<i>Platycheirus discimanus</i> Species of fly

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Platycheirus perpallidus is a species of hoverfly. It is a Holarctic species.

Platycheirus podagratus is a species of hoverfly. It is found in the Holarctic.

<i>Platycheirus sticticus</i> Species of fly

Platycheirus sticticus is a species of hoverfly. It is found in many parts of Europe across to Siberia.

<i>Epistrophe nitidicollis</i> Species of fly

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References

  1. ↑ Ball, Stuart; Morris, Roger (2013). Britain's Hoverflies: An Introduction to the Hoverflies of Britain. Woodstock, Oxfordshire: Princeton University Press. pp. 296pp. ISBN   978-0-691-15659-0.
  2. ↑ Ball, S.G.; Morris, R.K.A. (2000). Provisional atlas of British hoverflies (Diptera, Syrphidae). Monks Wood, UK: Biological Record Centre. 167 pages. ISBN   1-870393-54-6.
  3. ↑ Stubbs, Alan E.; Falk, Steven J (1983). British Hoverflies: An Illustrated Identification Guide (2nd ed.). London: British Entomological and Natural History Society. pp. 253, xvpp. ISBN   1-899935-03-7.
  4. ↑ Van Veen, M. (2004). Hoverflies of Northwest Europe: identification keys to the Syrphidae. 256pp. KNNV Publishing, Utrecht.addendum.
  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. ISBN   81-205-0080-6.
  7. ↑ Coe, R.L. (1953). "Diptera: Syrphidae". Handbks. Ident. Br. Insects10(1): 1-98. R. Ent. Soc. London. pdf.
  8. ↑ Ohara, Kenji (1980). "he genus Platycheirus Lepeletier and Serville, 1818 (Diptera, Syrphidae) of Japan, with description of three new species" (PDF). Esakia. 15: 97–142.
  9. ↑ Fauna Europaea.
  10. ↑ Peck, L.V. (1988). "Syrphidae". In: Soos, A. & Papp, L. (eds.) Catalogue of Palaearctic Diptera8: 11-230. Akad. Kiado, Budapest.
  11. ↑ Vockeroth, J.R. (1992). The Flower Flies of the Subfamily Syrphinae of Canada, Alaska, and Greenland (Diptera: Syrphidae). Part 18. The Insects and Arachnids of Canada. Ottawa, Ontario: Canadian Government Pub Centre. pp. 1–456. ISBN   0-660-13830-1.
  12. ↑ Speight, M.C.D. (2011). "Species accounts of European Syrphidae (Diptera)" (PDF). Syrph the Net, the database of European Syrphidae. 65: 285pp.
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