Species details

Sericomyia superbiens (Müller, 1776)

Nomenclature

Arctophila fulva (Harris, 1780) in Stubbs & Falk (1983), A. mussitans (Fabricius, 1775). Arctophila superbiens in Stubbs & Falk (2002).

Biology

The larva remains undescribed, but is thought to be aquatic or semi-aquatic. Stubbs & Falk (1983) report an observation of a female ovipositing in a water filled hoof print in a shaded muddy path beside a stream. Found near springs, wet flushes or streams, usually near the edge of woodland or carr. Adults are commonest in late summer and visit purple flowers, especially Devil's-bit Scabious Succisa, white umbels and yellow composites.

Distribution

This is primarily a northern and western species but there is an outlying population in East Anglia, especially Norfolk where it is part of an assemblage of otherwise northerly species.