Platycheirus melanopsis is a species of hoverfly. It is found from northern Europe across to eastern Siberia. The larva is described by Rotheray Rotheray, G. E. (1997) Larval stages of the predatory hoverflies Trichopsomyia flavitarsis (Meigen), Platycheirus melanopsis Loew and Parasyrphus nigritarsis (Zetterstedt) (Diptera: Syrphidae). Ent.Gaz., 48: 127-134.
Description A rather small and short Platycheirus with a protruding lower face related to Platycheirus manicatus and Platycheirus tarsalis. 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 and biology Palearctic Sweden, Finland and Scotland, northern England, the Alps and the Pyrenees; eastwards through North Europe and the Alps into European Russia and Siberia. The habitat is calcareous montane grassland with Picea, Betula, Juniperus, Pinus mugo and alpine grassland up to 2,700m.Flowers visited include Androsace, Calamintha, Cerastium, Cirsium, Convolvulus, Crepis, Gypsophila, Helianthemum, Hornungia, Pinguicula, Potentilla erecta, Ranunculus, Rhododendron ferrugineum. Flies June to August dependent on altitude. The larva feeds on aphids.
References
External links Images representing Platycheirus melanopsis