Numbers
one of two species in this genus in North America listed at
nearctica.com
common to abundant
Identification
Distinctive feature in both sexes is the apical third of the hind femur having a row of spines along the ventral edge (see
close-up photo from Insects of Cedar Creek); another good field mark is the pair of pale wedge-shaped spots on anterior margin of thorax behind the head.
Male: femur 3 strongly thickened, but hardly bent, basally without protuberance; tergite 2-3 with small, pale spots. Female: Ocellar triangle black or bluish, metallic shining; thoracic dorsum dusted along side margin; tergite 4: side and hind margins not dusted. [text by Mark van Veen, Netherlands]
Range
all of United States and southern Canada (absent from the arctic)
also occurs in Mexico, Eurasia, and the Orient
Habitat
adults are found in fields and grasslands with flowers
larvae live in wet decaying organic matter such as manure, compost, and silage
Season
adults fly from late April to October in the north (Ontario); probably earlier and later in the south
Food
adults take nectar from flowers of a wide variety of herbaceous plants
larvae feed on wet decaying organic matter such as cattle dung and silage
See Also
In North America,
Syritta flaviventris occurs only in Texas and Mexico; it has a prominent projection near the base of the hind femur - lacking in
S. pipiens (see
close-up photos by Gerard Pennards and Paul Beuk)
Internet References
live and pinned adult images with arrows pointing to distinctive features, plus habitat and seasonality (Jeff Skevington
et al, Field Guide to Flower Flies of Ontario)
live adult images plus photos of habitat and food (J.K. Lindsey, Netherlands)
pinned adult images of Syritta flaviventris by Gerard Pennards and Paul Beuk (Cyrille Dussaix, France)
distribution of
S. pipiens and
S. flaviventris (The Diptera Site, US Dept. of Agriculture)
