Brachyopa insensilis is a Palearctic species of hoverflies.Van Veen, M. (2004) Hoverflies of Northwest Europe: identification keys to the Syrphidae. 256pp. KNNV Publishing, Utrecht. 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. .
Description External images For terms see Morphology of Diptera The wing length is 6·5-7·25 mm. Apical antennomere small and without a sensory pit. Arista almost bare. Face less produced than in Brachyopa bicolor.Coe, R.L. (1953) Diptera: Syrphidae. Handbks.ident.Br.insects, 10(1): 1-98. R.ent.Soc.London. Scutellum with microtrichia only on anterior margin. The larva is illustrated by Rotheray (1993).Rotheray G., 1993 Colour Guide to Hoverfly Larvae Diptera, Syrphidae in Britain and Europe Dipterists Forum pdf
Distribution Brachyopa insensilis is a Palearctic species with a wide distribution in EuropeFauna Europaea and east to Tajikistan, Siberia, Russian Far East and Kamchatka.Peck, L.V. (1988) Syrphidae. In: Soos, A. & Papp, L. (eds.) Catalogue of Palaearctic Diptera, 8: 11-230. Akad.Kiado, Budapest.
The habitat is Abies, Quercus and Fagus forest with senile trees, but also occurs on old trees in suburban parks.
Behaviour Brachyopa insensilis is arboreal descending to visit sap runs and flowers (white umbellifers, Photinia, Prunus padus, Sorbus aria.de Buck, N. (1990) Bloembezoek en bestuivingsecologie van Zweefvliegen (Diptera, Syrphidae) in het bijzonder voor België. Doc. Trav. IRSNB, no. 60, p. 1-167. The flight period is from the beginning of May to the end of June. Brachyopa insensilis has a characteristic, rapid, zigzag flight and rarely descends lower than 3 metres from the ground. It may occur in small swarms around sap runs. Larvae feed in sap runs and rot holes.
References
External links Biolib