Philhelius pedissequus is a species of hoverfly.[2] Prior to 2018, it was known under the genus name Xanthogramma, a junior synonym.[3]
| Philhelius pedissequus | |
|---|---|
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| male | |
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| female | |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Diptera |
| Family: | Syrphidae |
| Genus: | Philhelius |
| Species: | P. pedissequus
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| Binomial name | |
| Philhelius pedissequus (Harris, 1776)
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| Synonyms[1] | |
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List
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Etymology
editThe Latin species name pedissequus means that follows on foot, like an attendant.
Distribution and habitat
editThis uncommon species is present in most of Europe, in Western Siberia, in the Near East and in North Africa.[4] It prefers grassland, open fields close to deciduous forest.[5][6]
Description
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Philhelius pedissequus can reach a length of 10–13 millimetres (0.39–0.51 in) and a wing length of 7.25–9.75 mm.[7][5] These hoverflies have a black body, with two yellow lateral stripes on the thorax, and yellow markings on tergites two to five. The pairs of tergites 2 are wedge-shaped and considerably wide.[5][6]
Biology
editFlight period last from mid May through September, with a peak at the end of June.[6] The adults feed on different flowers, for example, Ballota nigra, Potentilla erecta and Heracleum sphondylium.[7] Little is known of its larval stages. Larvae have been found underground in nests of the black garden ant (Lasius niger) and yellow meadow ant (Lasius flavus), probably to feed on ant-attended root aphids Forda formicaria and Trama species that they collect.[6][7][8][9]
References
edit- ^ Catalogue of life
- ^ Biolib
- ^ Evenhuis NL. Nomenclatural studies toward a World List of Diptera genus-group names. Part VI: Daniel William Coquillett. Zootaxa. 2018 Feb 18;4381(1):1-95. doi: 10.11646/zootaxa.4381.1.1. PMID: 29689947
- ^ Fauba europea
- ^ a b c Stuart Ball, Roger Morris Britain's Hoverflies: A Field Guide, Revised and Updated Second Edition
- ^ a b c d Nature Spot
- ^ a b c J.K. Lindsey Commanster
- ^ Stubbs, Alan E. & Falk, Steven J. (1983). British Hoverflies: An Illustrated Identification Guide. British Entomological & Natural History Society. pp. 253, xvpp.
- ^ Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park - Diptera Survey Report 2007
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