Tropidia scita

Description

Wing length: 5.5 to 8.25 mm

The key identification feature of this hoverfly is the arched and swollen hind femur with a large triangular projection on its lower surface near the apex. (Visible is several photos below, including an enlargment.) The projection has small black spines along its hind edge.

The abdomen has orange markings on tergites 2 and 3, covering the entire lateral margins in males, but reduced in females, sometimes to paired spots.

Identification difficulty
Habitat

This fly prefers marshy areas and fens, particularly where reedbeds are present.

When to see it

May to October, with the greatest numbers being on the wing in June and July.

Life History

Still unclear. The larva is believed to develop in wet debris such as reedbed litter.

UK Status

Widespread in Southern and Eastern England but local. It tends to become coastal further north, reaching as far as southern Scotland.

VC55 Status

Local.

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2020+ | 2015-2019 | pre-2015

UK Map

Species profile

Species group:
Hoverflies
Kingdom:
Animalia
Order:
Diptera
Family:
Syrphidae
Records on NatureSpot:
6
First record:
31/05/2011 (Gould, David)
Last record:
25/05/2024 (Edwards, Jo)

Total records by month

% of records within its species group

10km squares with records

The latest images and records displayed below include those awaiting verification checks so we cannot guarantee that every identification is correct. Once accepted, the record displays a green tick.

In the Latest Records section, click on the header to sort A-Z, and again to sort Z-A. Use the header boxes to filter the list.

Latest images

Latest records