Arthropods Daily – Issue No. 271

The species described is Sphaerophoria scripta, a hoverfly found worldwide in various regions including Europe, North Africa, and the Near East. They inhabit thickets, gardens, and meadows with flowering plants, and are effective pollinators for species like Galeopsis angustifolia and Silene gallica. Adult hoverflies feed on nectar and pollen, while their larvae consume aphids. Their life cycle can be as short as sixteen days, with up to nine generations in a year. S. scripta is migratory and overwinters as a larva.