Species details

Scaeva mecogramma (Bigot, 1860)

Biology

The larva is reported to feed on the Psyllid Euphyllura olivana on Olive Olea europaea trees (Rojo et al., 1999). They are covered with the waxy secretions from the Psyllids in the wild and that this is also apparent on pupae which are to be found on twigs and on the ground beneath Olive trees.

Distribution

According to Speight (2010), this is a species of Quercus ilex/Q. suber forest, olive groves and citrus orchards but can be migratory with occasional specimens occurring far outside the breeding range. A single British record: a female found on 19/08/1905 in Arniston, near Dalkeith, Edinburdg.

Status

Presumed to be an accidental import.