Melangyna quadrimaculata Verrall, 1873

Nomenclature:

Syrphus quadrimaculatus Verrall in Coe (1953).

Biology & ecology:

The larva is aphidophagous, and appear to have a clear preference for adelgids on Firs Abies sp. This is a woodland species. Adults are active very early in the spring when they usually visit flowering trees such as sallows Salix sp. and Hazel Corylus avellana catkins in clearings and rides. It flies relatively high in the canopy and is most readily caught using a net with a telescopic handle.

Distribution:

There are scattered records throughout mainland Britain but there are localised concentrations that probably indicate local recorder effort. This species is probably much more widely distributed than records suggest because it flies very early in the spring.

Status & conservation:

There was a substantial decline in the frequency of occurrence until around 2005. It has subsequently shown some evidence of a recovery but it is unclear whether this is real or possibly an artifact of changing reco9rder activity.