Species details

Melanogaster aerosa (Loew, 1843)

Nomenclature

Chrysogaster macquarti Loew in Stubbs & Falk (1983).

Biology

The larva is aquatic living beneath the surface of semi-liquid, enriched mud near plant roots where there is no water movement. Typically it occurs in acid bogs and flushes and around small moorland streams, although they may also be associated with ditches on alluvial levels. Adults are usually swept, or found visiting flowers, close to water.

Distribution

This species is regarded as a mainly northern and western species but the scatter of records from other areas suggests that this is not entirely so. It is widespread in acid areas but rarely abundant. Care is needed with identification, as this species is difficult to separate from M. hirtella, which often occurs in similar places. Whilst there is overlap in the flight periods, M. aerosa tends to fly later in the year.

Status

Listed as "Notable" by Falk, 1991, and Rare (RDB3) by Shirt, 1987 but Ball & Morris, 2010 dropped it from this status and regard it as LOWER RISK.