Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada

Species Syritta pipiens

Syritta pipiens with a lot of extra onhangers - Syritta pipiens Syrphid: Syritta pipiens - Syritta pipiens - female fly 60 - Syritta pipiens small Syrphid Fly with striped abdomen - Syritta pipiens Tachinid or Syrphid? - Syritta pipiens - female Syritta pipiens? - Syritta pipiens - female Syrphid Fly - Syritta pipiens Syritta pipiens Pair? - Syritta pipiens - male - female
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Diptera (Flies)
No Taxon ("Aschiza")
Family Syrphidae (Hover Flies)
Subfamily Eristalinae
Tribe Milesiini
Subtribe Tropidiina
Genus Syritta
Species pipiens (Syritta pipiens)
Other Common Names
Thick-legged hoverfly
Explanation of Names
Syritta pipiens (Linnaeus 1758)
Size
6.5-9.5 mm(1)
Identification
Scutum without pale spots in between transverse sutures
Fore and mid legs with dark spots on femora
Spurious vein present

Male:
Hind femur without large peg at base
Medial black stripe on second and third tergites usually rather thick

Female:
Maculae on fourth tergite rectangular, not extending posteriorly
Range
Across NA & Eurasia(2)
Habitat
Larvae in wet decaying organic matter (manure, compost, silage)(1).
Stages of Syritta pipiens have been reported from cow and horse manure, from guinea pig manure and from human excrement. It has also been found in decayed and rotting tulip bulbs and in heaps of vegetable refuse (Hodson, 1931).
Season
mid-Apr to mid-Oct in ON(1)
Food
Larvae feed on decaying Narcissus bulbs; wet manure, compost and silage.
Remarks
Introduced from Europe in the 1800s (Martin Hauser's comment).
Internet References