Platycheirus clypeatus is a species of hoverfly. It is found across the Palearctic and in the Nearctic. The larvae feed on aphids. Adults are usually found on the edges of woodland or scrub, heath or along hedgerows where they visit a wide range of flowers.Van Veen, M. (2004) Hoverflies of Northwest Europe: identification keys to the Syrphidae. 256pp. KNNV Publishing, Utrecht.addendum
Description of male External images
For terminology see Speight key to genera and glossary or Glossary of morphological terminology
Size Face densely Dusted in yellow or grey, with a slightly shining tubercle. The oral margin is rounded at the bottom.
Legs Pale with darker markings, including a posterior stripe on the fore femur and the basal two-thirds of the mid-femur. Darker areas also appear on mid tarsomeres 4 and 5, the basal three-quarters of the hind femur, the apical three-quarters of the hind tibia, and the hind tarsus. A tuft of 2-3 long, wavy, tightly pressed white hairs adorns the posterior of the fore femur, complemented by black pile elsewhere (see image). The fore tibia broadens from base to tip and has a pointed posterior angle. The first fore tarsomere (T1) is narrower than the tibia's apex, narrowing on the basal third and remaining parallel-sided on the apical two-thirds. There is a shallow groove below. The other fore tarsomeres are slightly narrower than T1. On the mid-femur, up to 13 short black setae (thick hairs) are present on the basal half, along with 4-6 long downward black setae. The mid-tibia features a strong ventral black pile on its basal half.
Thorax The **Scutum and Scutellum** shine in black, lightly dusted on the sides.
Wings Brown-tinted and entirely microtrichose, (covered with tiny hairs). The halter knob is brown or yellow.
Abdomen is parallel-sided, displaying yellow or orange spots on the tergites, sometimes with faint silvery dusting. The second tergite features small, circular spots well separated from the front margin, while tergites 3 and 4 have spots that meet the anterior margins. Tergite 5 is entirely dark. Van Veen, M. (2004). Hoverflies of Northwest Europe: identification keys to the Syrphidae. 256pp. KNNV Publishing, Utrecht.addendum.Van der Goot, V.S. (1981). De zweefvliegen van Noordwest - Europa en Europees Rusland, in het bijzonder van de Benelux. KNNV, Uitgave no. 32: 275pp. Amsterdam.Bei-Bienko, G.Y. & Steyskal, G.C. (1988). Keys to the Insects of the European Part of the USSR, Volume V: Diptera and Siphonaptera, Part I. Amerind Publishing Co., New Delhi. .Coe, R.L. (1953). "Diptera: Syrphidae". Handbks. Ident. Br. Insects 10(1): 1-98. R. Ent. Soc. London. pdf.Speight, M.C.D. & Goeldlin de Tiefenau, P. (1990). "Keys to distinguish Platycheirus angustipes, P. europaeus, P. occultus and P. ramsarensis (Dipt., Syrphidae) from other clypeatus group species known in Europe". Dipterists Digest 5: 5-18.
Image links For additional information, see these images.
Distribution Palearctic: Fennoscandia south to Iberia and the Mediterranean basin, Ireland east through Europe into Turkey and European Russia and then from the Urals to central Siberia. Nearctic: Alaska to Ontario and south to California.Fauna Europaea.Peck, L.V. (1988). "Syrphidae". In: Soos, A. & Papp, L. (eds.). Catalogue of Palaearctic Diptera 8: 11-230. Akad. Kiado, Budapest.
Biology Habitat: grassland and fen, margins of ponds, streams, bogs and lakes, wet ditches and canals. It flies April to September.
References