Species details

Pipiza noctiluca (Linnaeus, 1758)

Biology

The larva is aphidophagous, and has been reared on a variety of ground layer and arboreal species, including Cavariella on white umbels. Adults are usually found resting on vegetation along woodland margins, hedgerows and similar situations, or visiting flowers.

Distribution

P. fasciata, P. lugubris, P. noctiluca and P. notata, are justifiably seen as a difficult species complex by many recorders, and are often ignored. Consequently, they must be regarded as under-recorded and probably subject to frequent misidentification. This is much the most frequently recorded member of this group, however, and records are widespread in the southern half of Britain, with scattered records to northern Scotland.