Species details

Anasimyia lineata (Fabricius, 1787)

Nomenclature

Helophilus lineatus Fabricius in Coe (1953).

Biology

The larva is of the "long-tailed" type. They may be found in eutrophic wetlands in rotting plant debris just below the surface. Typical sites support emergent plants such as Great Reedmace Typha latifolia, Reed Sweet Grass Glyceria maxima and Branched Burr-reed Sparganium erectum, including Typha filled roadside ditches). Adults are most frequently found amongst marginal vegetation where they visit the flowers of buttercups Ranunculus (several species), Marsh Marigold Caltha palustris and other wetland plants such as Water Plantain Alisma plantago-aquatica.

Distribution

Primarily a lowland species that occurs in river valleys and coastal marshes. It is found throughout mainland Britain but is much scarcer in northern areas.