Species details

Platycheirus scutatus (Meigen, 1822)

Nomenclature

This species was separated from Platycheirus splendidus by Rotheray (1998) and from P. aurolateralis by Stubbs (2002).

Biology

The larva preys on a variety of aphid species on low growing plants, bushes and low tree foliage. A species of woodland edge (both coniferous and deciduous) and scrub, including hedgerows, parks and mature gardens. Adults are usually found resting on sun-lit vegetation or visiting a wide range of flowers in clearings, tacksides, etc. It is multiple brooded and has a long flight period.

Distribution

It remains a very common species that occurs widely throughout the British Isles but is as yet less well recorded from northerly areas.