Pipiza luteitarsis

[stuart]

Pipiza luteitarsis Zetterstedt, 1843

Identification ease/difficulty: 2

Habitat indicator status

• H3 in Stubbs (1982)

Sources of information

• Page 210, Pl. 5, fig 14 in Stubbs & Falk (1983)
• Larval plate Pl. 5b in Rotheray (1993)
• Map here and page 110 in Ball & Morris (2000)
• Page 315, Pl. 5, fig. 14 in Stubbs & Falk (2002)

[stuart]

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

Pipiza luteitarsis Zetterstedt, 1843

Biology: The larvae feed on Schizoneura aphids, which curl the leaves of Ulmus. This species is associated with deciduous woodland, and adults are often found resting on foliage along the edges of rides and clearings. Males defend patches of sunlight, hovering a few metres above the ground

Distribution: The most distinctive member of the genus, and not difficult to identify reliably. This is a scarce but widespread species in the southern half of Britain, tending to be recorded more frequently from the east. Whilst its range extends northwards to southern Scotland, it is rare in the northern part of its range. Although listed by Stubbs (1982) as a ‘good’ primary woodland indicator, recent records suggest that it is not confined to ancient woodlands, and the presence of Ulmus may be a more significant factor