Syrphus vitripennis

Small hoverfly ( Syrphus vitripennis )

The small hoverfly ( Syrphus vitripennis ) is a species of the genus Syrphus from the family of hoverflies (Syrphidae ).

Features

The little hoverfly reaches a body length of 9 to 11 mm. Your abdomen is dull black in color and carries three yellow napkins. The first of them is centered black interrupted. The hind legs ( femurs ) are predominantly black in the male three-quarters, with the females. You can see the Great hoverfly ( Syrphus ribesii ) are very similar, but slightly smaller. Only on the basis of body size, however, can not distinguish the two species. Secure distinguishing feature are the rear legs, which are black for the small hoverfly to three quarters. In the similar way they are black only in the male half, otherwise yellow.

Occurrence and life

The animals come from Europe east to Japan before. They are commonly found in almost all habitats in Central Europe. The Wanderart flies in Central Europe in several generations of March to October. Imagines sucking nectar on a variety of plant species such as blackthorn, marsh marigold, dandelion or cypress spurge. The larvae feed on aphids and predatory see which of S. ribesii similar.

Documents

• Gerald Bothe: hoverflies. German youth club for nature observation, Hamburg 1996.
• Kurt Kormann: hoverflies and bubble -headed flies of Central Europe Fauna Nature Guide Volume 1, Fauna -Verlag, Nottuln 2002, ISBN 3-935980-29-9