Pine hoverfly (Blera fallax)
| Kingdom | Animalia |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Arthropoda |
| Class | Insecta |
| Order | Diptera |
| Family | Syrphidae |
| Genus | Blera (1) |
Classified as Endangered in Great Britain and listed as a priority species under the UK Biodiversity Action Plan (2).
The pine hoverfly is the only hoverfly with a red-tipped black abdomen and a yellow face (3).
This hoverfly is thought to have declined; until very recently it was found in 7 sites (2) but it is now restricted to just two locations in north-east Scotland (4).In Europe, where this species is found in mountainous areas, it is declining and thought to be under threat (2).
The pine hoverfly inhabits native pine woods (2), where it breeds in wet rot holes on rotting pine stumps (4).
Little is known of the ecology of this species.
At both of the current sites supporting this species, there are very few suitable pine stumps with rot holes (4). This species is also threatened by unsuitable woodland management, and possibly by over-collection by entomologists(2).
This species is a priority species under the UK Biodiversity Action Plan (UK BAP) (2). The RSPB has taken on the role of ‘lead partner’ for this and another rare hoverfly, the aspen hoverfly (Hammerschmidtia ferruginea) since they were found on RSPB-owned sites. With Scottish Natural Heritage, they are funding a programme of work on these species, carried out by the Malloch Society (4). For details of this work please follow the link below.
For more on Diptera species, see:
-
The Malloch society:
http://www.mallochsociety.org.uk/index.php?sn=pr&ssn=sc&id=101
For information on invertebrates and their conservation, see:
-
Buglife, the Invertebrate Conservation Trust:
www.buglife.org.uk
This information is awaiting authentication by a species expert, and will be updated as soon as possible. If you are able to help please contact:
arkive@wildscreen.org.uk
- Abdomen: in arthropods (crustaceans, insects and arachnids) the abdomen is the hind region of the body, which is usually segmented to a degree (but not visibly in most spiders). In crustacea (e.g. crabs) some of the limbs attach to the abdomen; in insects the limbs are attached to the thorax (the part of the body nearest to the head) and not the abdomen. In vertebrates the abdomen is the part of the body that contains the internal organs (except the heart and lungs).
- Entomologists: people who study insects.
-
National Biodiversity Network Species Dictionary (January 2004):
http://www.nhm.ac.uk/nbn -
UK Biodiversity Action Plan (January 2004):
http://www.ukbap.org.uk -
RSPB Biodiversity (January 2004):
http://www.rspb.org.uk/biodiversity/RSPBandbiodiversity/lead_partner/inverts/pinehoverfly/index.asp -
The Malloch Society (January 2004):
http://www.mallochsociety.org.uk/index.php?sn=pr&ssn=sc&id=101