Lejogaster tarsata (Meigen, 1822)

Nomenclature:

Lejogaster splendida (Meigen) in Stubbs & Falk (1983).

Biology & ecology:

The larva is aquatic and has been found among floating, decaying vegetation in a pond. Adults are most often found in or near coastal marshes, for example at the fringes of mildly brackish ditches, or in the transition zone between fresh and saline water in coastal flushes. They visit flowers, especially white umbels and Ranunculus.

Distribution:

Although this is mainly a coastal species in Britain there are confirmed inland records, but confusion with L. metallina makes the distribution difficult to assess. It appears to be a scarce species generally, but can be abundant at some localities.

Status & conservation:

There has been a significant decline in occurrence over the past 25 years, in keeping with many wetland species.