| Xylota segnis | |
|---|---|
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| Xylota segnis. Male showing the row of thorns on hind femora | |
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| Female | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Diptera |
| Family: | Syrphidae |
| Subfamily: | Eristalinae |
| Tribe: | Milesiini |
| Subtribe: | Xylotina |
| Genus: | Xylota |
| Species: | X. segnis |
| Binomial name | |
| Xylota segnis | |
| Synonyms | |
Xylota segnis, The Brown-toed Forest Fly, is a common species of hoverfly. [5]
The genus name Xylota is the Latinized form of the rare Byzantine-Greek ξυλωτή [xsylōtē] meaning wooden, while the Latin species name segnis means slipping or lazy, as this hoverfly usually rests on a leaf and it does not fly frequently. The translation of the taxon could be "lazy wood fly". [6]
This species has a Palearctic and Nearctic distribution. It is present in all Europe including the Mediterranean, the Caucasus and through Russia to the Russian Far East and Japan. It is also present in the Nearctic eastern parts, in southeastern Canada and northeastern United States. [7] [8] [9] GBIF species page, with map
This species mainly inhabits low bushes in woods. [10]
External images For terms see Morphology of Diptera
Xylota segnis can reach a length of 10–14 millimetres (0.39–0.55 in) and has a wing length reaching 7–9.5 millimetres (0.28–0.37 in). [10] Thorax is greenish black, with long yellowish hairs. Abdomen is black with a large red or yellowish red patch. In particular, tergites 2 and 3 are yellow or reddish except for the back of tergite 3 which is black. Two rows of long and thick spines are present on hind femora. The front and the hind legs are predominantly yellow, with black or dark brown femora. The compound eyes are reddish and antennae are dark. The wings are slightly brownish with a brown pterostigma, the halteres are light yellow. In males on the hind trochanters there is a long upcurved pointed process. The male genitalia are figured by Hippa (1968). [11] The larva is illustrated in colour by Rotheray (1994) ). [12] See references for determination. [13] [14] [15] [10]
This species is polyvoltin, with up to three generations per year. Flight times last from April to September. Adults feed by grazing on anemophilous pollen grazed from surface of leaves. [16] However these hoverflies rarely visits also flowers of various plants, for example Corylus avellana , Rubus idaeus , Euphorbia cyparissias , Aegopodium podagraria , Angelica sylvestris , Heracleum sphondylium , Cirsium arvense and Crataegus species. They also eat honey dew from aphids.
Larvae are normally associated with decaying tree sap, [17] but have also been found in decaying human remains. [18] Larvae overwinter and pupate in the spring.
Xylota sylvarum is a common Palearctic species of hoverfly.
Cheilosia albipila is a European and Palearctic species of hoverfly. Like most Cheilosia it is black, and because of this may often be overlooked as a hoverfly. It is little recorded but probably widespread and common and maybe overlooked because adult flight periods are early in the year, before many hoverfly recorders are active.
Merodon equestris is a Holarctic species of hoverfly. Like many other hoverflies it displays a colouration pattern similar to a stinging insect as an evolutionary defense mechanism. Other syrphid bee mimics are Mallota, Arctophila, Criorhina, Pocota and Brachypalpus. Merodon species are distinguished from these by the very strong hind femora, which bear a large triangular projection on the underside near the tip. It flies in low vegetation while the other bumblebee mimics prefer higher vegetation layers.
Dasysyrphus is a genus of hover flies with 50 identified species distributed worldwide. While the genus is relatively easy to identify, genera key the differences between species have a more narrow range of variations. Therefore, identification of species by images of specimens alone should be made with care.
Dasysyrphus tricinctus is a European species of hoverfly in the genus Dasysyrphus, a member of the family Syrphidae. It is found across Europe, although reported in highest density from the British Isles and Scandinavia. While not uncommon it is generally only seen in modest numbers, typically in lowland woods with peak numbers in late May and early June and again in late August and early September.
Meliscaeva auricollis is a West Palearctic species of hoverfly.
Meliscaeva cinctella is a Holarctic species of hoverfly.
Melangyna lasiophthalma is a Holarctic species of hoverfly.
Epistrophe grossulariae is a Holarctic species of hoverfly.
Parasyrphus vittiger is a species of hoverfly, from the family Syrphidae, in the order Diptera.
Criorhina floccosa, is a species of hoverfly. It is found in many parts of the Palearctic including Europe.
Platycheirus angustatus is a species of hoverfly. It is found in many parts of the Palearctic, and in the Nearctic.
Paragus haemorrhous,the Black-backed Grass Skimmer is a common widespread species of hoverfly found in many parts of Europe, Africa and the Nearctic. Hoverflies can remain nearly motionless in flight. The adults are also known as flower flies for they are commonly found on flowers from which they get both energy-giving nectar and protein-rich pollen. The larvae are predators on aphids.
Melangyna umbellatarum is a Holarctic species of hoverfly.
Melangyna arctica is a Holarctic species of hoverfly.
Melangyna quadrimaculata is a European species of hoverfly.
Meligramma guttatum is a Holarctic species of hoverfly.
Eumerus funeralis or lesser bulb fly is a species of Hoverfly, from the family Syrphidae, in the order Diptera. E. funeralis appears in Peck (1988) as a synonym of E. strigatus (Fallen), but was reinstated as the correct name for tuberculatus Rondani, sensu auctorum by Speight et al. (1998).
Xylota tarda is a Palearctic species of hoverfly.
Xylota florum is a Palearctic species of hoverfly.
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