Species details

Sphaerophoria virgata Goeldlin de Tiefenau, 1974

Biology

Larvae unknown, but those of Sphaerophoria are predaceous upon aphids and other soft bodied Homoptera. It therefore seems likely that S. virgata will exhibit similar associations, possibly associated with homopterans on ericaceous shrubs. Adults are known flower visitors and have been reported from Heather Calluna vulgaris flowers and Tormentil Potentilla erecta flowers.

Distribution

A scarce and little known species that appears to favour more western and northern locations but which also occurs on the heathlands of Dorset, Hampshire and Surrey. There is also an outlying record from the Ashdown Forest area of Sussex.

Status

Lower Risk (Nationally scarce) - Ball & Morris, 2010. Notable - Falk, 1991.