Pherbellia cinerella is a species of fly in the family Sciomyzidae. It is found in the Palearctic.Fauna EuropaeaBei-Bienko, G.Y. & Steyskal, G.C. (1988) Keys to the Insects of the European Part of the USSR, Volume V: Diptera and Siphonaptera, Parts I, II. Amerind Publishing Co., New Delhi. Séguy, E. (1934) Diptères: Brachycères. II. Muscidae acalypterae, Scatophagidae. Paris: Éditions Faune de France 28 Bibliotheque Virtuelle Numerique pdf P. cinerella is a dark and very characteristic Pherbellia and easy to recognise in the field by its long mid-frontal stripe and darkened anterior wing margin. The larva is predatory on a variety of terrestrial and aquatic snails including Helicidae, Galba truncatula, Helix, Helicella, Succinea and Lymnaea.There is little or no host preference.Rozkošný, R., 1984 The Sciomyzidae (Diptera) of Fennoscandia and Denmark. Fauna Entomologica Scandinavica, 14 Hardback (224 pp., 639 figures, in English)Clifford O. Berg and Lloyd Knutson, 1978 Biology and systematics of the Sciomyzidae Ann.R ev. Entomol. 1978.2 3:239-258 It is found in a wide range of habitats but it is most often found in warm and dry habitats such as coastal dunes and calcareous grassland where it can reach high numbers. It is also encountered in moist vegetation though in lesser numbers.Bratt, A. D., L.V. Knutson, B. A. Foote, and C. O. Berg, 1969 Biology of Pherbellia(Diptera: Sciomyzidae).Cornell Univ. Agric. Exper. Sta., New York State Coll. Agric. Ithaca, N.Y. Mem. 404, pp. 1-247; 184 figures. It is a potential biological control agent.
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External links Images representing Pherbellia cinerella at Barcode of Life Data Systems