Pipiza noctiluca is a species of Hoverfly, from the family Syrphidae, in the order Diptera.[2]
Description
External images
For terms see Morphology of Diptera Wing length 6.5 -8mm. Tarsae1: segments 1-2 yellowish; face broadened towards mouth edge with eye margins divergent. Wing: dark cloud at median.3rd segment as long as wide. Abdomen yellow spots with small or abdomen entirely grey black.
See references for determination.[3][4][5][6]
Distribution
Palearctic Atlantic zone of Europe and Scandinavia. All Europe if older records are accepted[7][8]
Biology
Habitat: Salix stands and Quercus woodland, Atlantic scrub, conifer forest, conifer plantations. Suburban gardens and along hedges in farmland.[9]
Flowers visited include umbellifers, Crataegus, Filipendula, Ranunculus, Rosa, Stellaria, Taraxacum.[10] Flies May to September. Pipiza larvae are predators of gall forming aphids.
^Van Veen, M.P. (2004). Hoverflies of Northwest Europe, Identification Keys to the Syrphidae (Hardback). Utrecht: KNNV Publishing. p. 254. ISBN90-5011-199-8.
^Van Veen, M. (2004) Hoverflies of Northwest Europe: identification keys to the Syrphidae. 256pp. KNNV Publishing, Utrecht.addendum
^Van der Goot,V.S. (1981) De zweefvliegen van Noordwest - Europa en Europees Rusland, in het bijzonder van de Benelux. KNNV, Uitgave no.32: 275pp. Amsterdam.
^Bei-Bienko, G.Y. & Steyskal, G.C. (1988) Keys to the Insects of the European Part of the USSR, Volume V: Diptera and Siphonaptera, Part I. Amerind Publishing Co., New Delhi. ISBN81-205-0080-6.
^Coe, R.L. (1953) Diptera: Syrphidae. Handbks.ident.Br.insects, 10(1): 1-98. R.ent.Soc.London. pdf
^de Buck, N. (1990) Bloembezoek en bestuivingsecologie van Zweefvliegen (Diptera, Syrphidae) in het bijzonder voor België. Doc.Trav. IRSNB, no.60, 1-167.