Little hover fly
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Small hover fly ( Syrphus vitripennis ) |
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Syrphus vitripennis | ||||||||||||
| ( Meigen , 1822) |
The small hover fly ( Syrphus vitripennis ) is a species of the genus Syrphus from the family of the hover flies (Syrphidae).
features
The small hover fly reaches a body length of 9 to 11 millimeters. Their abdomen is dull black and has three yellow bands. The first of them is interrupted in the middle in black. The hind legs ( femora ) are three quarters of the males and predominantly black of the females. They look very similar to the great hover fly ( Syrphus ribesii ), but are slightly smaller. However, it is not possible to distinguish the two species based on body size. The thighs, three quarters of which are black in the little hover fly, are a sure distinguishing feature. In the similar species they are only half black in the males, otherwise yellow.
Occurrence and way of life
The animals come from Europe east to Japan. They can be found frequently in almost all habitats in Central Europe. The migratory species flies in Central Europe in several generations from March to October. Adults suck nectar from a variety of different plant species such as blackthorn , marsh marigold , dandelion or cypress milkweed . The larvae predatory feed on aphids and look similar to those of S. ribesii .
supporting documents
- Gerald Bothe: Hoverflies. German Youth Association for Nature Observation , Hamburg 1996.
- Kurt Kormann: Hover flies and bladder-head flies of Central Europe Fauna Nature Guide Volume 1, Fauna-Verlag, Nottuln 2002, ISBN 3-935980-29-9
