Arctophila superbiens

[stuart]

Arctophila superbiens (Müller, 1776)

Nomenclature

• Arctophila fulva in Stubbs & Falk (1983)
• Arctophila fulva in RA33
• Arctophila fulva in Kloet & Hincks (1976)

Identification ease/difficulty: 1

Sources of information

• Page 214, Pl. 8, fig 8 (as Arctophila fulva) in Stubbs & Falk (1983)
• Map here and page 17 in Ball & Morris (2000)
• Page 321, Pl. 8, fig. 8 in Stubbs & Falk (2002)

Pictures:

[stuart]

Species account from Provisional atlas of British hoverflies, Ball & Morris, 2000.

Arctophila superbiens (Müller, 1776) Arctophila fulva (Harris) in Stubbs & Falk (1983), A. mussitans (Fabricius, 1775)

Biology: The larvae remain undescribed, but are thought to be aquatic or semi-aquatic. Stubbs & Falk (1983) report an observation of a female ovipositing in a water filled hoofprint in a shaded muddy path beside a stream. Found near springs, wet flushes or streams, usually near the edge of woodland or carr. Adults visit purple flowers, especially Succisa, white umbels and yellow composites

Distribution: A northern and western species which is locally abundant in suitable localities, these tending to be sheltered, and on neutral to acid soils. In the area of East Anglia where it occurs, this species is part of a fauna showing a northern element across the taxa