Platycheirus scutatus

[stuart]

Platycheirus scutatus (Meigen, 1822)

Identification ease/difficulty: 3

Sources of information

• Page 124, Pl. A, fig 7; Pl. 1, fig 8 in Stubbs & Falk (1983)
• Larval plate Pl. 4e in Rotheray (1993)
• Map here and page 123 in Ball & Morris (2000)
• Page 183, Pl. R, fig. 7; Pl. 1, fig. 8 in Stubbs & Falk (2002)

Pictures:

[stuart]

Species account from Provisional atlas of British hoverflies, Ball & Morris, 2000.

Platycheirus scutatus (Meigen, 1822)

Biology: The larvae prey on a variety of aphid species on low growing plants, bushes and small trees. A species of woodland edge (both coniferous and deciduous) and scrub, including hedgerows, parks and mature gardens. Adults are usually found resting on sunlit vegetation or visiting a wide range of flowers in clearings, tacksides, etc. It is multiple brooded and has a long flight period

Distribution: The separation of P. splendens by Rotheray (1998) has shown that these two species have been confused and existing records of P scutatus are therefore suspect. However, records of adults from July onwards are likely to be true P. scutatus whilst earlier records are mixed. It appears likely that both are frequent and widespread, but P scutatus will still turn out to be one of our commonest species