Species details

Parhelophilus consimilis (Malm, 1863)

Nomenclature

Helophilus consimilis Malm in Coe (1953).

Biology

This is a wetland species and occurs in habitats that reflect a transition between fen and bog, erring on the side of nutrient-poor acid waters and poor fen. Adults fly rapidly around, and settle on, emergent vegetation and visit flowers such as Bog Bean Menyanthes trifoliata, buttercups Ranunculus sp. and Marsh Cinquefoil Potentilla palustris. The larvae of this genus are "long-tailed", a modification that allows the animal to breathe whilst living entirely submerged. To date this species' larva appears not to have been found.

Distribution

There are scattered records from southern Scotland south to South Somerset (Westhay Moor), Dorset (Studland), Cornwall, East Kent and East Anglia (including Thompson Common and Sutton Broad Fen).

Status

Lower Risk (Nationally scarce) - Ball & Morris, 2010. Vulnerable (RDB2) - Falk, 1991 and Shirt, 1987.