Species details
Epistrophe diaphana (Zetterstedt, 1843)
NomenclatureSyrphus diaphanus Zetterstedt in Coe (1953).
BiologyThe larva is undescribed, but this genus is aphidophagous and associated with trees, shrubs and tall herbs. Adults usually occur at woodland edge or in scrubby habitats where they can be found visiting flowers, especially Hogweed Heracleum sphondylium or resting on sun-lit vegetation. Males hover at 2-4m in open patches.
DistributionThis is a largely south eastern species that appears to have undergone a small but significant increase in range in the past ten years. There are recent records from Shropshire, Leicestershire and Northamptonshire and several localities are involved. New records from Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshireich suggest that this species is moving northwards.
StatusWas listed as "Notable" by Falk, 1991, but dropped from this status by Ball & Morris, 2010 who consider it LOWER RISK.