Cheilosia psilophthalma (Becker, 1894)

Nomenclature:

Separated from C. urbana by Claussen & Kassebeer (1993) and recorded from Great Britain by Falk (2002).

Biology & ecology:

Females oviposit on leaf axils of Mouse-ear Hawkweed Hieracium pilosella. Upon hatching, larvae feed in leaf axils, rosette centres, stolon tips, and leaves and pupate on the soil surface after 3 instars (Grosskopf, 2005).

Distribution:

There are only a few scattered records of this species whose separation from C. urbana demands considerable care. Current evidence suggests that this species has a more northerly distribution than C. urbana. Recently recorded from Scotland by Wilkinson (2010).

Status & conservation:

Recorded from 17 hectads since 1985.