Larval stages of 17 rare and poorly known British hoverflies (Diptera: Syrphidae)

Abstract

Third stage larvae of three species of phytophagous (Portevina maculata, Cheilosia albitarsis and C. antiqua), thirteen species of saprophagous (Callicera aurata, Brachyopa bicolor, B. insensilis, B. pilosa, Hammerschmidtia ferruginea, Myolepta potens, Brachypalpus laphriformis, Caliprobola speciosa, Criorhina berberina, C. floccosa, C. ranunculi, Pocota personata and Xylota tarda) and one possibly predatory species (Microdon devius) of Syrphidae are described. Most of the saprophagous species breed in dead wood and many are European rarities. Nine of the 17 species described are included in the British Red Data Books: 2. Insects (Shirt, 1987). For the larva of each species, recognition features and breeding sites are described.