Myathropa florea

Totenkopfschwebfliege ( Myathropa florea )

The Totenkopfschwebfliege, rarely also called Common umbels - hoverfly ( Myathropa florea ) is a species of the family of hoverflies (Syrphidae ).

Features

The flies reach a body length of 12 to 14 mm. Her face wears a black Mittelstrieme, the sensors are black. The females have a black forehead, the sides being pollinated yellow. On the mesonotum there is a yellow-black pattern, the resemblance to a skull and makes the kind of distinctive. This drawing owes the kind their German names. The abdomen is black and carries on the sides of the segments large yellow spots. The wings are slightly brown tinted. The legs are shown in yellow and black, the tarsi are predominantly black.

Occurrence

The species is widespread in Europe and east to Siberia and Central Asia and in North Africa. It is to be found in Central Europe and everywhere among the most common hoverflies. They are found mainly in forests, but also in semi-arid grassland and gardens. The nature rises in the mountains to heights of about 1200 meters. The flight time is from April to September, with the peak in May / June is. Since 2005 Myathropa florea is found in North America ( Northern California ).

Way of life

The adults are flower visitors and fly to different flowers, like that of dogwood, elderberry, cypress spurge and Umbelliferae such as ground elder and giant hogweed. Especially in places with concentrations of flowers or flowering shrubs the flies are very restless and settle on only briefly. They fly zooming and restless, so they scare other insects. Males pursue the females often over long distances. The larvae develop in muddy water and puddles. The hibernation usually occurs as an egg, but there are also Altlarven who try to hibernate. If this can be successful, however, is not known.