Species details

Cheilosia pagana (Meigen, 1822)

Biology

The larva develops in pockets of oily decay in the roots of umbellifers. For example, there is a rearing record from decaying roots of Cow Parsley Anthriscus sylvestris (Stubbs, 1980). Adults are usually found on flowers, often white umbels such as Cow Parsley and Hogweed Heracleum sphondylium, in clearings and rides in woods, on waste ground, roadsides, hedgerows, rough field-edges, etc. There are at least two generations each year and considerable variation between the sexes and generations, making C. pagana a very variable and confusing species.

Distribution

Extremely widely distributed and often common in all habitats. The maps suggest that this species is less abundant in western and northern areas, which may suggest an association with hotter and drier conditions.