Pine hoverfly  (Blera fallax)

Pine hoverfly

Facts

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Arthropoda
Class Insecta
Order Diptera
Family Syrphidae
Genus Blera (1)

Status

Classified as Endangered in Great Britain and listed as a priority species under the UK Biodiversity Action Plan (2).

Description

The pine hoverfly is the only hoverfly with a red-tipped black abdomen and a yellow face (3).

Range

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).

You can view distribution information for this species at the National Biodiversity Network GatewayDisplay NBN Map Button

Habitat

The pine hoverfly inhabits native pine woods (2), where it breeds in wet rot holes on rotting pine stumps (4).

Biology

Little is known of the ecology of this species.

Threats

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).

Conservation

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.

The UK Biodiversity Action Plan for this species is available at UK Biodiversity Action Plan

Further Information

For more on this 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

Authentication

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Glossary

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.

References

  1. National Biodiversity Network Species Dictionary (January 2004):
    http://www.nhm.ac.uk/nbn
  2. UK Biodiversity Action Plan (January 2004):
    http://www.ukbap.org.uk
  3. RSPB Biodiversity (January 2004):
    http://www.rspb.org.uk/biodiversity/RSPBandbiodiversity/lead_partner/inverts/pinehoverfly/index.asp
  4. The Malloch Society (January 2004):
    http://www.mallochsociety.org.uk/index.php?sn=pr&ssn=sc&id=101