Mallota cimbiciformis

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Mallota cimbiciformis (Fallén, 1817)

Identification ease/difficulty: 2

Status

• Notable in Falk (1991)
• Vulnerable in Shirt (1987)

Habitat indicator status

• H2 in Stubbs (1982)

Sources of information

• Page 198, Pl. 11, fig 12 in Stubbs & Falk (1983)
• Larval plate Pl. 14b in Rotheray (1993)
• Map here and page 83 in Ball & Morris (2000)
• Page 298, Pl. 11, fig. 12 in Stubbs & Falk (2002)

Pictures:

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

Mallota cimbiciformis (Fallén, 1817)

Biology: The larvae, which are of the ‘long-tailed’ type, are found in water-filled rot holes in a wide range of deciduous trees, but often * and Castanea. Holes of all sizes and positions on the tree are used, but there seems to be a preference for holes some metres above the ground with a narrow entrance. Several larvae may occur together in one hole. Adults are extremely convincing hive-bee mimics and elusive, but are sometimes found visiting flowers such as Prunus lusitanica, Rubus and Rosa canina

Distribution: Scarce, but with records widely scattered over southern Britain north to a line between the Humber and the Mersey, and with recent records from North Yorkshire and the Clyde Valley (Barr, 1996). There does not seem to be a strong association with woodland, and isolated large trees provide suitable breeding sites even in urban areas. Adults are probably under-recorded, and presence at a site may be better established by searching for larvae

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Datasheet from the Review of Scarce and Threatened Diptera, Falk (1991).

MALLOTA CIMBICIFORMIS (Fallen) NOTABLE

DISTRIBUTION Records scattered widely in southern England and the Midlands as far north as Cheshire with a very recent record for Newborough Forest, Anglesey (1987).

HABITAT Broadleaved woodland and parkland with a requirement for old trees with rot holes.

ECOLOGY Larvae have been reared from wet rot holes of horse chestnut and elm and it is possible that birch and beech are also used. Pupation occurs just above the rot holes in drier detritus, and rot holes at height seem to be preferred, both in woodlands or isolated trees (as in Hyde Park). Adults recorded from May to August and visit the flowers of roses, brambles and hogweed.

STATUS Infrequent and records very unpredictable. There seems to be little attachment to individual sites suggesting a mobile and adventive nature. About 15 post 1960 sites, scattered widely. Status revised from RDB2 (Shirt 1987).

THREAT Clearance of woodland for agriculture, forestry and urban development and removal of old and diseased trees with rot holes.

MANAGEMENT Maximise the number of old and diseased trees in a site and ensure a continuity of them in the future. Maintain open rides and clearings in woods with blossoms and flowers for adult feeding.