Brachyopa scutellaris

Brachyopa scutellaris is a European species of hoverfly.^[2][3][4][5]

Brachyopa scutellaris
Brachyopa scutellaris Wales
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Diptera
Family:	Syrphidae
Subfamily:	Eristalinae
Tribe:	Brachyopini
Subtribe:	Brachyopina
Genus:	Brachyopa
Species:	B. scutellaris
Binomial name
Brachyopa scutellaris Robineau-Desvoidy, 1843[1]

Description

External images For terms see Morphology of Diptera
The wing length is 6·5-7·75 mm. Apical antennomere with a large kidney-shaped sensory pit Tergite 2 posterolaterally black pilose.^[6] The larva is illustrated by Rotheray (1993).^[7]

Distribution

Brachyopa scutellaris is a west Palearctic species with a distribution centred in Europe (Denmark to the Pyrenees, Ireland east through Central Europe to Switzerland).^[8][9]

Habitat. Czech Republic

Habitat and biology

The habitat is deciduous forest (Acer, Alnus, Ulmus, Fraxinus). The flight period is mid April to end June. Brachyopa scutellaris flies, pendulously, in sunlit patches beside living trees with sap runs (where the larvae develop) and around rot-holes. Flowers visited include white umbellifers, Cardamine, Crataegus, Malus, Cornus, Photinia, Rubus fruticosus, Sorbus and Viburnum.^[10][11]