Lejogaster tarsata is a Palearctic hoverfly

Lejogaster tarsata
Lejogaster tarsata Scotland
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Diptera
Family: Syrphidae
Genus: Lejogaster
Species:
L. tarsata
Binomial name
Lejogaster tarsata
(Meigen, 1822)
Synonyms

Lejogaster splendida (Meigen, 1822)

Description

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External images For terms see Morphology of Diptera
The thorax and abdomen are lustrous metallic green to golden, frequently with reddish reflections. The tergite at the tip of the abdomen is yellowish-green with blue and purple reflections except around the margin. In the male the face lacks a median tubercle. The third segment of antennae below for greater or lesser part narrow and part yellow towards the tip. Middle segment of tarsi yellow. Body length 5.0 to 7.0 mm.[1][2] The larva is described and figured by Rotheray (1994).[3] [4][5][6][7]

Distribution

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Scandinavia south to the Mediterranean basin. From Ireland east through Central Europe and Southern Europe into European Russia, Iran and Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kirghizia, Turkmenia and Kazakhstan to Mongolia, Siberia and the Russian Far East.[8][9]

Habitat

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Wetland, margins of streams and pools, springs and spring-fed ponds.

Biology

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Flies in a zigzag, darting fashion from May to August. Flowers visited are white umbellifers Matricaria, Ranunculus. [10]

References

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  1. ^ Van der Goot,V.S. (1981) De zweefvliegen van Noordwest - Europa en Europees Rusland, in het bijzonder van de Benelux. KNNV, Uitgave no.32: 275pp. Amsterdam.
  2. ^ Stubbs, Alan E. & Falk, Steven J. (1983). British Hoverflies: An Illustrated Identification Guide (2nd (revised) ed.). British Entomological & Natural History Society. p. 271, xvpp. ISBN 0-9502891-3-2.
  3. ^ Rotheray G., 1993 Colour Guide to Hoverfly Larvae Diptera, Syrphidae in Britain and Europe Dipterists Forum pdf
  4. ^ Bei-Bienko, G.Y. & Steyskal, G.C. (1988a) Keys to the Insects of the European Part of the USSR, Volume V: Diptera and Siphonaptera, Part I. Amerind Publishing Co., New Delhi. ISBN 81-205-0080-6.
  5. ^ Van Veen, M. (2004) Hoverflies of Northwest Europe: identification keys to the Syrphidae. 256pp. KNNV Publishing, Utrecht.addendum
  6. ^ Van der Goot,V.S. (1981) De zweefvliegen van Noordwest - Europa en Europees Rusland, in het bijzonder van de Benelux. KNNV, Uitgave no.32: 275pp. Amsterdam.
  7. ^ Coe, R.L. (1953) Diptera: Syrphidae. Handbks.ident.Br.insects, 10(1): 1-98. R.ent.Soc.London. pdf
  8. ^ Fauna Europaea
  9. ^ Peck, L.V. (1988) Syrphidae. In: Soos, A. & Papp, L. (eds.) Catalogue of Palaearctic Diptera, 8: 11-230. Akad.Kiado, Budapest.
  10. ^ Speight, M.C.D. (2011). "Species accounts of European Syrphidae (Diptera)" (PDF). Syrph the Net, the database of European Syrphidae. 65: 285pp.