Species details

Syrphus vitripennis Meigen, 1822

Biology

The larva feeds on aphids on a wide range of trees and shrubs. It is found in all types of woodland, scrub and hedgerow situations including urban parks and gardens. Adults visit a wide range of flowers and males hover high in the canopy. It is believed to be highly migratory and numbers are probably reinforced in some years by immigrants from the continent.

Distribution

Although common and widespread throughout Britain this species undergoes considerable fluctuations in abundance. These differences in abundance may be related to native populations being boosted by arrivals from the continent (Morris, 2005a).