Sargus bipunctatus
(Scopoli, 1763)
twin-spot centurion, Twin-Spot Centurion Fly
Sargus bipunctatus, commonly known as the twin-spot centurion, is a European in the . range from 10–14 mm in body length and display in coloration. The is associated with decaying matter, where females oviposit and develop. It has been observed in both open and wooded from July through November.
Identification
Distinguished from the similar Sargus cuprarius by a narrower . Males are slender with a metallic green and with violet metallic tinge; females are broader with the abdomen base extensively reddish and a blackish tip bearing reflections. are slightly . Legs are red with brown at the . Body length 10–14 mm.
Images
Habitat
Found in open and wooded . frequently sunbathe on foliage in sheltered spots.
Distribution
Europe, including Belgium, Denmark, and southern Western Europe; also recorded in the Trans-Caucasus Central belt.
Seasonality
period from July to November.
Life Cycle
Females lay on fresh , manure, or in nearby soil. develop in cow dung, compost, rotting vegetation, and decaying . Larvae have also been found in of the .
Behavior
sunbathe on foliage in sheltered locations.
Ecological Role
contribute to decomposition of matter including , compost, and rotting vegetation.
Similar Taxa
- Sargus cuprariusSimilar appearance but with broader ; S. bipunctatus has narrower frons and distinct abdominal coloration differences between sexes.