Myathropa florea is a species of fly with a wing length of 7–12 mm, known for its black and yellow patterning on the thorax and abdomen. The larvae of this species were described by Graham E. Rotheray in 1993. It is found in the Palearctic region, from Fennoscandia to Iberia and across Europe and Russia, and has been seen in North America since 2005. These flies live in various habitats like forests, farmland, parks, and gardens, and feed on bacteria in waterlogged detritus. They are known to visit different types of flowers from May to October for nectar.
Description
#For terms see Morphology of Diptera
The species has a wing length of 7–12 mm (0.3–0.5 in). Thorax dorsum with a characteristic “skull” black pattern. Abdomen black with yellow patterning. Legs pale and black. The larvae of the species were described and figured by Graham E. Rotheray in 1993.
See references for determination.
Distribution
#Myathropa florea is found in the Palearctic from Fennoscandia south to Iberia and the Mediterranean basin, and from Ireland eastwards across Europe and Russia. It has been adventive on the Pacific coast of North America since 2005.
Biology
#They occur in deciduous forests, fen carr, farmland with trees, parks, and gardens.
They visit many different species of flowers, including umbellifers, Castanea, Convolvulus, Crataegus, Chaerophyllum, Euonymus, Filipendula, Hedera, Rhododendron, Rubus, Sambucus, Solidago, Sorbus, and Viburnum opulus.
The flight period is May to October. Larvae feed on bacteria in organic waterlogged detritus, often in the shallow rot holes of tree stumps.
== References ==
Myathropa florea is a species of fly with a wing length of 7–12 mm, known for its black and yellow patterning on the thorax and abdomen. The larvae of this species were described by Graham E. Rotheray in 1993. It is found in the Palearctic region, from Fennoscandia to Iberia and across Europe and Russia, and has been seen in North America since 2005. These flies live in various habitats like forests, farmland, parks, and gardens, and feed on bacteria in waterlogged detritus. They are known to visit different types of flowers from May to October for nectar.
Ancestry Graph
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flowchart LR
classDef active fill:#fff
arthropods("phylum: Arthropods"):::active
arthropods-->insects("class: Insects"):::active
insects-->brachyceran-flies("suborder: Brachyceran Flies"):::active
brachyceran-flies-->hover-flies("family: Hover Flies"):::active
hover-flies-.->pipizella("genus: Pipizella")
hover-flies-.->tapered-drone-fly(["species: Tapered Drone Fly"])
hover-flies-.->trivittate-marsh-fly(["species: Trivittate Marsh Fly"])
hover-flies==>yellow-haired-sun-fly(["species: Yellow-haired Sun Fly"]):::active
hover-flies-.->common-drone-fly(["species: Common Drone Fly"])
hover-flies-.->common-globetail(["species: Common Globetail"])
hover-flies-.->hornet-mimic-hover-fly(["species: Hornet Mimic Hover Fly"])
hover-flies-.->marmalade-hover-fly(["species: Marmalade Hover Fly"])
hover-flies-.->thick-legged-hover-fly(["species: Thick-legged Hover Fly"])
hover-flies-.->variable-duskyface-fly(["species: Variable Duskyface Fly"])
click pipizella href "/en/catalogue/arthropods/insects/brachyceran-flies/hover-flies/pipizella/"
click tapered-drone-fly href "/en/catalogue/arthropods/insects/brachyceran-flies/hover-flies/tapered-drone-fly/"
click trivittate-marsh-fly href "/en/catalogue/arthropods/insects/brachyceran-flies/hover-flies/trivittate-marsh-fly/"
click yellow-haired-sun-fly href "/en/catalogue/arthropods/insects/brachyceran-flies/hover-flies/yellow-haired-sun-fly/"
click common-drone-fly href "/en/catalogue/arthropods/insects/brachyceran-flies/hover-flies/common-drone-fly/"
click common-globetail href "/en/catalogue/arthropods/insects/brachyceran-flies/hover-flies/common-globetail/"
click hornet-mimic-hover-fly href "/en/catalogue/arthropods/insects/brachyceran-flies/hover-flies/hornet-mimic-hover-fly/"
click marmalade-hover-fly href "/en/catalogue/arthropods/insects/brachyceran-flies/hover-flies/marmalade-hover-fly/"
click thick-legged-hover-fly href "/en/catalogue/arthropods/insects/brachyceran-flies/hover-flies/thick-legged-hover-fly/"
click variable-duskyface-fly href "/en/catalogue/arthropods/insects/brachyceran-flies/hover-flies/variable-duskyface-fly/"
click arthropods href "/en/catalogue/arthropods/"
click insects href "/en/catalogue/arthropods/insects/"
click brachyceran-flies href "/en/catalogue/arthropods/insects/brachyceran-flies/"
click hover-flies href "/en/catalogue/arthropods/insects/brachyceran-flies/hover-flies/"
Further Information
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