Parasyrphus vittiger is a species of hoverfly, from the family Syrphidae, in the order Diptera.
Description External images For terms see Morphology of Diptera Wing length 6·25- 8·75 mm. Hind tibia yellow at base and apex. Pterostigma grey. Fore tarsus with segments 4 and 5 darkened (other segments yellow). The male terminalia are figured by Hippa (1968).Hippa, H. (1968) A generic revision of the genus Syrphus and allied genera (Diptera: Syrphidae) in the Palearctic region, with descriptions of the male genitalia. Acta Ent.Fenn., 25: 1-94. Larva described and figured by Rotheray (1994).Rotheray G., 1993 Colour Guide to Hoverfly Larvae Diptera, Syrphidae in Britain and Europe Dipterists Forum pdf See references for determination.Van Veen, M. (2004) Hoverflies of Northwest Europe: identification keys to the Syrphidae. 256pp. KNNV Publishing, Utrecht.addendumVan 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 Fennoscandia South to the Pyrenees and central Spain. Ireland East through Europe and European Russia. Caucasus and from the Urals to central Siberia (Cis-Baikal, Yakutia).Fauna EuropaeaPeck, L.V. (1988) Syrphidae. In: Soos, A. & Papp, L. (eds.) Catalogue of Palaearctic Diptera, 8: 11-230. Akad.Kiado, Budapest.
Biology Habitat: Abies, Picea, Pinus forest and Fagus woodland. Flowers visited include Alchemilla, Galium, Potentilla erecta, Ranunculus, Salix,, Taraxacum see list in Speight (refs) for more.de Buck, N. (1990) Bloembezoek en bestuivingsecologie van Zweefvliegen (Diptera, Syrphidae) in het bijzonder voor België. Doc.Trav. IRSNB, no.60, 1-167. Flies April to September. The larva is predatory on aphids.
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