Cheilosia albitarsis/ranunculi agg.

Cheilosia albitarsis and Cheilosia ranunculi are very similar and can often only be safely determined by detailed examination. For this reason we have treated the two species as an aggregate. They are robust with a short broad abdomen. In sunlight the thorax may be seen as metallic dark blue/green. The abdomen is more of a duller grey/bronze colour.

These species are often found in damp meadows, marshy areas, woodland clearings or well-shaded verges and are associated with buttercup.

April to August

Adult females may sometimes be found landing on a buttercup leaf, walking to the tip and then underneath in order to lay an egg.

According to records on the NBN database Cheilosia albitarsis would appear to be by far the more common of the two species and is widespread in Britain, but it is not known how many of these records were ones where the species identification had been determined by detailed examination.

As an aggregate the species appear common in Leicestershire and Rutland.