''Blera fallax'', the pine hoverfly or roodkapje, is a

rare species A rare species is a group of organisms that are very uncommon, scarce, or infrequently encountered. This designation may be applied to either a plant or animal taxon, and is distinct from the term ''endangered species, endangered'' or ''threatened ...

hoverfly Hoverflies, also called flower flies or syrphids, make up the insect family Syrphidae. As their common name suggests, they are often seen hovering or nectaring at flowers; the adults of many species feed mainly on nectar and pollen, while the l ...

normally associated with mature pine trees in Northern and

Central Europe Central Europe is a geographical region of Europe between Eastern Europe, Eastern, Southern Europe, Southern, Western Europe, Western and Northern Europe, Northern Europe. Central Europe is known for its cultural diversity; however, countries in ...

Distribution and habitat

''Blera fallax'' is found in northern and central Eurasia from central Scandinavia east to Siberia and Japan, with a relcit population in Scotland. At lower latitudes they are typically found in mountain forests where there are more pine and spruce, ecven up to subalpine dwarf mountain pine (''

Pinus mugo ''Pinus mugo'', known as dwarf mountain pine, mountain pine, scrub mountain pine, Swiss mountain pine, bog pine, creeping pine, or mugo pine, is a species of conifer, native to high elevation habitats from southwestern to Central Europe and Sou ...

'') forests. They prefer pine forests, particularly

Scots pine ''Pinus sylvestris'', the Scots pine (UK), Scotch pine (US), Baltic pine, or European red pine is a species of tree in the pine family Pinaceae that is native to Eurasia. It can readily be identified by its combination of fairly short, blue-gr ...

(''Pinus sylvestris'') but also other pine species and

spruce A spruce is a tree of the genus ''Picea'' ( ), a genus of about 40 species of coniferous evergreen trees in the family Pinaceae, found in the northern temperate and boreal ecosystem, boreal (taiga) regions of the Northern hemisphere. ''Picea'' ...

(''

Picea A spruce is a tree of the genus ''Picea'' ( ), a genus of about 40 species of coniferous evergreen trees in the family Pinaceae, found in the northern temperate and boreal (taiga) regions of the Northern hemisphere. ''Picea'' is the sole genus ...

'' where there is high humidity and rotting dead timber.

Biology

''Blera fallax''

larva A larva (; : larvae ) is a distinct juvenile form many animals undergo before metamorphosis into their next life stage. Animals with indirect development such as insects, some arachnids, amphibians, or cnidarians typically have a larval phase ...

, which are of the rat-tailed maggot type, normally develop in damp rot holes of felled or fallen pine trees, notably the Scots pine, though it will occur with other

conifer Conifers () are a group of conifer cone, cone-bearing Spermatophyte, seed plants, a subset of gymnosperms. Scientifically, they make up the phylum, division Pinophyta (), also known as Coniferophyta () or Coniferae. The division contains a sin ...

s. Preference is for large stumps where there has been some

heartwood Wood is a structural tissue/material found as xylem in the stems and roots of trees and other woody plants. It is an organic materiala natural composite of cellulosic fibers that are strong in tension and embedded in a matrix of lignin t ...

softening by the

fungus A fungus (: fungi , , , or ; or funguses) is any member of the group of eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts and mold (fungus), molds, as well as the more familiar mushrooms. These organisms are classified as one ...

'' Phaeolus schweinitzii''. Adult flies have been seen feeding on wild

raspberry The raspberry is the edible fruit of several plant species in the genus ''Rubus'' of the Rosaceae, rose family, most of which are in the subgenus ''Rubus#Modern classification, Idaeobatus''. The name also applies to these plants themselves. Ras ...

flowers, but little else is known about adult behaviour. Other authors have recorded the adults feeding on a wide ariety of flowers. The adult pine hoverflies have been observed sunning on the cut ends of conifer stumps and on the ground next to cut or fallen trees, The males fly fast and low through the forest clearing, through or close to the vegetation, especially close to clumps of plants, such a raspberries, that are in flower.

Conservation

''Blera fallax'' has an isolated relict subpopulation in the pine forests of northern Scotland. Here, attempts have been made on

RSPB The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) is a Charitable_organization#United_Kingdom, charitable organisation registered in Charity Commission for England and Wales, England and Wales and in Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator, ...

sites to create artificial rot holes in felled pine stumps. This has led to a slight increase in numbers of adults in some areas, though numbers are still very low and causing some concern.

References

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Blera Fallax Milesiini Diptera of Europe Flies described in 1758 Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus