Criorhina ranunculi, is a species of hoverfly found in the spring in many parts of Britain and Europe.[5]

Criorhina ranunculi
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Diptera
Family: Syrphidae
Subfamily: Eristalinae
Tribe: Milesiini
Subtribe: Criorhinina
Genus: Criorhina
Species:
C. ranunculi
Binomial name
Criorhina ranunculi
(Panzer, 1803)[1]
Synonyms

The larvae of C. ranunculi are associated with rotting deciduous wood.[a] Adults are remarkable bumblebee mimics and are usually found in woodland in springtime visiting flowers such as sallow to feed.[6][7]

Description

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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.[8][9][10][11]

Distribution

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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.[12][13]

 
Habitat.Ireland.

Biology

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Habitat includes: Betula, Fagus, and Quercus forest.[14] Adults are primarily arboreal, but descend to visit flowering shrubs in sun-lit glades. These flies are extremely fast, with a high-pitched 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.[15] The flight period is from the beginning of March to mid May (later at higher altitudes).

See also

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

Notes

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

References

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  1. ^ a b Panzer, G.W.F. (1803). "Favnae insectorvm germanicae initia oder Devtschlands Insecten". 91. Nurnberg: 24 pp., 24 pls. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  2. ^ Macquart, P.J.M. Insectes diptères du nord de la France. Syrphies. Vol. 1829. Lille. pp. 223 pp., 4 pls. Retrieved 16 July 2021. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  3. ^ Rondani, Camillo (1865). "Diptera Italica non vel minus cognita descripta vel annotata observationibus nonnullis additis. Fasc. I. Oestridae-Syrphidae-Conopidae; Fasc. II. Muscidae". Atti della Società Italiana di Scienze Naturali e del Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Milano. 8: 127–146. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
  4. ^ Gil Collado, J. Monografia de los Sirfidos de Espana. Trabajos M. N. C. N. (ser. Zool.). 54 (PDF). Madrid: 1930. p. 377. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ 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.
  7. ^ 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
  8. ^ Van Veen, M. (2004) Hoverflies of Northwest Europe: identification keys to the Syrphidae. 256pp. KNNV Publishing, Utrecht.addendum
  9. ^ 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.
  10. ^ 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.
  11. ^ Coe, R.L. (1953) Diptera: Syrphidae. Handbks.ident.Br.insects, 10(1): 1-98. R.ent.Soc.London. pdf Archived 2018-10-04 at the Wayback Machine
  12. ^ Fauna Europaea
  13. ^ Peck, L.V. (1988) Syrphidae. In: Soos, A. & Papp, L. (eds.) Catalogue of Palaearctic Diptera, 8: 11-230. Akad.Kiado, Budapest.
  14. ^ Speight, M.C.D. (2011). "Species accounts of European Syrphidae (Diptera)" (PDF). Syrph the Net, the Database of European Syrphidae. 65: 285pp.
  15. ^ de Buck, N. (1990) Bloembezoek en bestuivingsecologie van Zweefvliegen (Diptera, Syrphidae) in het bijzonder voor België. Doc.Trav. IRSNB, no.60, 1-167.
  1. REDIRECT Criorhina ranunculi
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