Platycheirus peltatus is a Palearctic species of hoverfly.
Description External images For terms, see: Morphology of Diptera. Tibiae 2 is uniformly broadened from base to apex, sometimes with a further swelling on apical 1/5. Metatarsae 1 is greatly enlarged. Dusting on frons is not well-defined. Short and broad tergites 6 and 7 and relatively broad posterior margin of tergite give the abdomen a blunt ended form.
See references for determination.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.
Distribution Palearctic: Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Ireland, Britain, Germany, the Netherlands, the Ardennes and Vosges mountains, the Loire floodplain, the Rhine valley, the Pyrenees and the Alps, the former Yugoslavia; Altai mountains (Siberia), and Japan.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: fen and humid grassland and in association with tall herb vegetation of flushes in grassland; in open areas in humid Fagus, Abies forest. It flies May to August.
References