Platycheirus podagratus

[stuart]

Platycheirus podagratus (Zetterstedt, [1838])

Identification ease/difficulty: 3

Status

• Notable in Falk (1991)

Sources of information

• Page 123, Pl. A, fig 8; Pl. 1, fig 11 in Stubbs & Falk (1983)
• Larval plate Pl. 4f in Rotheray (1993)
• Map here and page 121 in Ball & Morris (2000)
• Page 182, Pl. R, fig. 8; Pl. 1, fig.?11 in Stubbs & Falk (2002)

[stuart]

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

Platycheirus podagratus (Zetterstedt, 1838)

Biology: Larvae unknown. Occurs at the edges of oligotrophic lakes and in boggy areas on moorland at moderate altitudes, although it has been found at 700m in the Pennines. Adults fly low amongst stands of vegetation such as Carex or Juncus, usually close to water, and are often found by sweeping. It has been found visiting sedge flowers

Distribution: A scarce and local species of northern England and Scotland, with most records from the Scottish Highlands. There are records from North Wales and a few from southern England, but these require confirmation. Some older records, which do not take into account recent species splits, may refer to P. occultus

[stuart]

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

PLATYCHEIRUS PODAGRATUS (Zetterstedt) NOTABLE

DISTRIBUTION Widely distributed in Scotland (especially the Highlands), northern England, with isolated records in the north west half of England.

HABITAT Bogs, poor fen and river margins both in lowland and submontane areas exceeding 450m. Occasionally on coastal dunes (Monadh Mor, East Ross) probably utilizing dune slacks or other marshy areas and acidic conditions may be a requirement in all such cases.

ECOLOGY Larvae probably aphidophagous though details unknown. Adults recorded from May to August.

STATUS Very local over most of Britain with about 35 known post 1960 sites, and locally frequent in some parts of Scotland and northern England.

THREAT Drainage of marshy areas for agricultural improvement or afforestation. River improvement schemes and the loss of marginal vegetation through clearance, excessive trampling or overgrazing. Pollution such as agricultural run-off.

MANAGEMENT Maintain a high stable water level and ensure a full succession or mosaic of vegetation types including pools and ditches.