Species details

Pelecocera tricincta Meigen, 1822

Biology

This is a heathland species that favours wetter heaths with Cross-leaved Heath Erica tetralix. The larva is unknown. Adults are flower visitors and can be found on yellow, low-growing flowers such as Tormentil Potentilla erecta, Cats-ear Hypochoeris radicata, hawkbits Leontodon sp. and buttercups Ranunculus sp. along heathland rides and heath verge. On occasions, it can occur in numbers, but records more frequently refer to single individuals.

Distribution

This is a southern species that is restricted to the heathlands of Devon, Dorset, Isle of Wight, South Hampshire, North Hampshire, West Gloucestershire, Surrey and East Sussex. Records seem to have become more frequent since 2000.

Status

Lower Risk (Nationally scarce) - Ball & Morris, 2010. Rare (RDB3) - Falk, 1991 and Shirt, 1987.