Lapposyrphus lapponicus

(Zetterstedt, 1838)

Common Loopwing Aphideater, Lapland Syrphid Fly

Lapposyrphus lapponicus is a common syrphid fly distributed across the Northern Hemisphere. are frequently observed visiting flowers to obtain nectar and pollen. The larvae are predatory and feed on aphids, making this species beneficial in agricultural and natural . The species is known by different in North America (common loopwing aphideater) and Europe (Lapland syrphid fly).

Lapposyrphus lapponicus by (c) Jeremiah Degenhardt, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Jeremiah Degenhardt. Used under a CC-BY license.Lapposyrphus lapponicus P1270625a by 
xpda. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Lapposyrphus lapponicus: //læp.oʊˈsɪrfəs læˈpoʊnɪkəs//

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Images

Distribution

Holarctic distribution spanning the Northern Hemisphere. Recorded from Belgium (including Brussels-Capital Region, Flemish Region, and Walloon Region), Denmark, and across northern North America including Alaska, Canada, and the northern United States.

Diet

feed on nectar and pollen from flowers. Larvae are predatory and feed on aphids.

Behavior

are commonly found on flowers. Larvae are .

Ecological Role

Larvae function as agents by preying on aphids. may contribute to pollination while foraging for nectar and pollen.

More Details

Nomenclature

The was originally described by Zetterstedt in 1838. vary by region: 'common loopwing aphideater' in North America and 'Lapland syrphid fly' in Europe.

Observation Data

As of the data cutoff, iNaturalist records 3,782 observations of this , indicating it is frequently encountered and well-documented.

Sources and further reading