Cheilosia barbata

[stuart]

Cheilosia barbata Loew, 1857

Identification ease/difficulty: 3

Status

• Notable in Falk (1991)

Habitat indicator status

• H3 in Stubbs (1982)

Sources of information

• Page 165 in Stubbs & Falk (1983)
• Map here and page 27 in Ball & Morris (2000)
• Page 246, Pl. G, Fig. 4 in Stubbs & Falk (2002)

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

Cheilosia barbata Loew, 1857

Biology: The larvae of this species remain unknown. Adults are found on chalk downs or in woodlands on clay, or occasionally on sandy soils, as in Surrey where they visit a wide range of white and yellow flowers including most white umbels. Usually in open areas, especially beside streams (Speight, 1998)

Distribution: Mainly recorded from southern downland extending from Kent, through Surrey and Sussex to Hampshire, and in woodlands on the clay through Oxfordshire to Warwickshire

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

CHEILOSIA BARBATA Loew NOTABLE

DISTRIBUTION A clumped distribution in southern England, extending as far north as Derbyshire. A rather strong southeast bias is shown with a number of records for Kent, the Surrey Downs and Chilterns.

HABITAT Broadleaved woodland on chalk soils, occasionally clay woods nearby.

ECOLOGY Larvae probably phytophagous though host plant is unknown. A member of the family Compositae is most probable. Adults recorded from May to September suggesting the presence of two broods.

STATUS A very local species with about 15 known post 1960 sites.

THREAT Clearance of chalk woodland for agriculture or intensive forestry. The shading out of rides and clearings within.

MANAGEMENT Maintain rides and clearings in an open state to encourage a rich and varied flora. Coppicing of the woods could also benefit both the ground flora and associated insects such as this species.