Species details

Cheilosia illustrata (Harris, 1780)

Biology

The larva tunnels the large rootstocks of Hogweed Heracleum sphondylium. Adults are most commonly found at Hogweed flowers and other white umbels along glades, tracksides, hedges, etc. and are a typical component of the mid-summer fauna of Hogweed flowers. This species appears to be emerging much earlier than it used to.

Distribution

A very common species throughout Britain wherever white umbels such as Hogweed and Wild Angelica Angelica sylvestris grow. Records are much more thinly distributed in upland areas and data suggest that this species favours localities below an altitude of 200 metres.