Species details

Eupeodes nitens (Zetterstedt, 1843)

Nomenclature

Syrphus nitens Zetterstedt in Coe (1953), Metasyrphus nitens (Zetterstedt) in Stubbs & Falk (1983).

Biology

The larva is predaceous upon aphids on shrubs, with reports of associations with aphids on Black Currant Ribes nigrum, Elderberry Sambucus nigra and Spindle Euonymus europaeus.

Distribution

The majority of records are southern or western and are largely confined to England. Obvious centres of population lie in Dorset, Hampshire and Surrey with a further concentration of records along the Severn valley and the Welsh Marches. The most northerly records are from southern Cumbria and County Durham.

Status

Lower risk (Nationally scarce) - Ball & Morris, 2002. Notable - Falk, 1991.