Species details

Heringia latitarsis (Egger, 1865)

Nomenclature

Cnemodon latitarsis Egger in Coe (1953), Neocnemodon latitarsis (Egger) in Stubbs & Falk (1983).

Biology

The larva is aphidophagous and has been found attacking the woolly aphid Dreyfusia picea on Firs Abies sp. It has also been found feeding on aphids on Apple Malus sp., Poplar Populus sp. and Elm Ulmus sp. This species has been recorded from mature coniferous and mixed woodlands. Adults can be found visiting flowers (e.g. Cow Parsley Anthriscus sylvestris, Blackthorn Prunus spinosus, brambles Rubus sp., and Dog Rose Rosa canina along woodland rides and edges and settled on sun-lit leaves. Speight (2010) describes them as largely arboreal, but descending to visit flowers.

Distribution

Widely distributed across southern England and Wales as far north as South Yorkshire and South Lancashire. There is a record from Midlothian but the data accompanying it are poor, with no locality name, recorder or date. There are post-1990 records from Dorset, Surrey, East Kent, Nottinghamshire and South-west Yorkshire.

Status

Lower risk (Nationally scarce) - Ball & Morris, 2010. Notable - Falk, 1991.