Species details

Sphegina elegans Schummel, 1843

Nomenclature

Sphegina kimakowiczii Strobl in Stubbs & Falk (1983).

Biology

The larva is found in accumulations of decaying sap under bark, usually in damp shaded places including under the bark of partially submerged logs in streams. Found in wet, shady woodland, generally in much wetter situations than is typical for S. clunipes and not usually far from water. Adults appear to stay in the shade of the canopy and very few records mention adults visiting flowers, even though they do regularly visit umbels such as Hemlock Water Dropwort Oenanthe croccata.

Distribution

Although both species are widely distributed throughout Britain, this species is much more patchily distributed than S. clunipes. It is undoubtedly much less abundant in Scotland where it is very infrequently encountered. Conversely, it appears to be the more frequent species at some localities in the West Midlands.