Criorhina berberina

[stuart]

Criorhina berberina (Fabricius, 1805)

Identification ease/difficulty: 2

Habitat indicator status

• H2 in Stubbs (1982)

Sources of information

• Page 221, Pl. 10, fig 3 in Stubbs & Falk (1983)
• Map here and page 49 in Ball & Morris (2000)
• Page 330, Pl. 10, fig. 3 in Stubbs & Falk (2002)

Pictures:

[stuart]

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

Criorhina berberina (Fabricius, 1805)

Biology: Larvae have been found in rotten wood in cavities in the trunk of Betula and rotten roots of *, but are probably associated with rotting wood in a range of deciduous species. Adults are usually found in woodland with overmature trees and are often seen visiting flowers or settled on sunlit foliage. Males patrol flowers and flowering shrubs. Females can be found around flying around the base of stumps and dead or dying trees

Distribution: The commonest and most widespread member of the genus, occurring most frequently in well-wooded areas in central and southern Britain, but extending northwards into Scotland