Criorhina ranunculi

Criorhina ranunculi, is a species of hoverfly found in the spring in many parts of Britain and Europe.[1]

Criorhina ranunculi
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Diptera
Family: Syrphidae
Genus: Criorhina
Species:
C. ranunculi
Binomial name
Criorhina ranunculi
(Panzer, 1804)

The larvae of C. ranunculi are associated with rotting deciduous wood.[lower-alpha 1] Adults are remarkable bumblebee mimics and are usually found in woodland in springtime visiting flowers such as sallow to feed.[2][3]

Description

For terms see Morphology of Diptera
Large (wing length 11·25–14 mm.) bumblebee mimic. Thorax and abdomen with long, dense hairs. Hairs black on thorax and basal part of abdomen red or yellowish on tip of abdomen. Scutellar hairs may be pale yellow or brownish. Hind femora considerably thickened, especially in males. Hind tibiae sickle-shaped.[4][5][6][7]

Distribution

It has a Palaearctic distribution, including southern Norway and Sweden south to central Spain, and from Ireland eastwards through central Europe into European parts of Russia.[8][9]

Habitat.Ireland.

Biology

Habitat includes: Betula, Fagus, and Quercus forest.[10] Adults are primarily arboreal, but descend to visit flowering shrubs in sun-lit glades. These flies are extremely fast, with a highpitched whine, zig-zagging between the branches of flowering trees. Flowers visited include Cardamine pratensis, Cornus sanguinea, Crataegus, Photinia, Prunus cerasus, Prunus spinosa, Rubus, Salix, and Sorbus aucuparia.[11] The flight period is from the beginning of March to mid May (later at higher altitudes).

See also

Other bumblebee mimics are Mallota, Arctophila, Merodon, Pocota and Brachypalpus. Criorhina differ from these genera in the form of the antennae.

Notes
  1. Despite the specific name, the species has no special association with Ranunculus buttercups.

References
  1. Stubbs, Alan E.; Falk, Steven J (1983). British Hoverflies: An Illustrated Identification Guide (2nd ed.). London: British Entomological and Natural History Society. pp. 253, xvpp. ISBN 1-899935-03-7.
  2. Ball, S.G.; Morris, R.K.A. (2000). Provisional atlas of British hoverflies (Diptera, Syrphidae). Monks Wood, UK: Biological Records Centre. pp. 167 pages. ISBN 1-870393-54-6.
  3. Rotheray G., 1993 Colour Guide to Hoverfly Larvae Diptera, Syrphidae in Britain and Europe Dipterists Forum pdf Archived 2019-04-03 at the Wayback Machine
  4. Van Veen, M. (2004) Hoverflies of Northwest Europe: identification keys to the Syrphidae. 256pp. KNNV Publishing, Utrecht.addendum
  5. 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.
  6. 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. ISBN 81-205-0080-6.
  7. Coe, R.L. (1953) Diptera: Syrphidae. Handbks.ident.Br.insects, 10(1): 1-98. R.ent.Soc.London. pdf
  8. Fauna Europaea
  9. Peck, L.V. (1988) Syrphidae. In: Soos, A. & Papp, L. (eds.) Catalogue of Palaearctic Diptera, 8: 11-230. Akad.Kiado, Budapest.
  10. Speight, M.C.D. (2011). "Species accounts of European Syrphidae (Diptera)" (PDF). Syrph the Net, the database of European Syrphidae. 65: 285pp.
  11. de Buck, N. (1990) Bloembezoek en bestuivingsecologie van Zweefvliegen (Diptera, Syrphidae) in het bijzonder voor België. Doc.Trav. IRSNB, no.60, 1-167.

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