Black-legged flower fly (Syrphus vitripennis)

Here is a detailed overview of the Black-legged Flower Fly (Syrphus vitripennis), a common and important hoverfly found throughout Europe:

🪰 Black-legged Flower Fly (Syrphus vitripennis)

🔹 Taxonomy

• Order: Diptera (True flies)
• Family: Syrphidae (Hoverflies)
• Subfamily: Syrphinae
• Genus: Syrphus
• Species: Syrphus vitripennis
• Authority: (Meigen, 1822)

🔹 Identification

• Size: ~10–12 mm in length
• Coloration:
  • Bright yellow and black bands on the abdomen – typical wasp mimic
  • Black legs, especially the hind femora (key feature separating it from similar Syrphus species)
  • Thorax: Shiny metallic greenish-bronze
  • Eyes: Large and reddish-brown, typical of hoverflies
  • Wings: Transparent with a distinctive dark wing vein loop (spurious vein)

🔹 Distribution

• Widespread throughout Europe, including:
  • British Isles, Scandinavia, Central and Eastern Europe
• Also found in parts of North Africa and Asia
• Prefers temperate zones but highly adaptable

🔹 Habitat

• Occurs in a wide range of habitats:
  • Woodland edges
  • Hedgerows
  • Gardens
  • Parks
  • Meadows and flower-rich fields
• Adults are highly mobile and often seen visiting open flowers

🔹 Seasonal Activity

• Flight period: March to October (peaks in spring and late summer)
• Multiple generations per year in warmer regions

🔹 Behavior and Ecology

🌸 Adult Diet

• Feeds on nectar and pollen, especially from:
  • Dandelions
  • Daisy family (Asteraceae)
  • Umbellifers (like hogweed and cow parsley)
  • Brambles, buttercups, thistles
• Excellent pollinators for wild and garden plants

🐛 Larval Behavior

• Larvae are voracious aphid predators
• Help control greenfly and blackfly populations on plants and trees
• Often found on deciduous trees, nettles, roses, and crop plants

🔹 Distinguishing Features

• Black hind femurs (thighs) – unlike Syrphus ribesii (yellow legs)
• Hovering ability: Can remain still in flight, then dart quickly
• Mimics wasps to deter predators but is harmless and stingless

🔹 Similar Species

🔹 Ecological Role

• Pollinator of wildflowers, fruit crops, and garden plants
• Biological pest control – larvae consume hundreds of aphids before pupation
• Indicator species for healthy, flowering habitats

🔹 Conservation

• Not threatened – very common
• Benefits from:
  • Wildflower planting
  • Reduced pesticide use
  • Organic gardening practices

🔹 Fun Facts

• Hoverflies like Syrphus vitripennis are often misidentified as bees or wasps due to their Batesian mimicry
• Despite their fearsome look, they are completely harmless to humans
• Their name vitripennis means “glass-winged” – referring to their clear, veined wings

📸 Observation Tips

• Look for them hovering near flowers in sunny weather
• Best seen in spring and summer, especially around flowering shrubs and trees with aphid colonies
• Easy to photograph while feeding on flat-topped flowers like hogweed or daisy-like blooms

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