Philhelius pedissequus

Appearance

''Philhelius pedissequus'' can reach a length of 10–13 millimetres and a wing length of 7.25–9.75 mm. These hoverflies have a black body, with two yellow lateral stripes on the thorax, and yellow markings on tergites two to five. The pairs of tergites 2 are wedge-shaped and considerably wide.

Naming

The Latin species name ''pedissequus'' means ''that follows on foot'', like an attendant.

Distribution

This uncommon species is present in most of Europe, in Western Siberia, in the Near East and in North Africa. It prefers grassland, open fields close to deciduous forest.

Behavior

Flight period last from mid May through September, with a peak at the end of June. The adults feed on different flowers, for example, ''Ballota nigra'', ''Potentilla erecta'' and ''Heracleum sphondylium''. Little is known of its larval stages. Larvae have been found underground in nests of the black garden ant and yellow meadow ant , probably to feed on ant-attended root aphids ''Forda formicaria'' and ''Trama'' species that they collect.

Habitat

This uncommon species is present in most of Europe, in Western Siberia, in the Near East and in North Africa. It prefers grassland, open fields close to deciduous forest.