[Syrphidae] Tropidia fasciata

[wout.opdekamp at gmail.com]

Dear all,

Whilst mapping grassland vegetations in southern Belgium (mainly Molinion
and Arrhenaterion meadows) I discovered several populations of Eumerus
ruficornis, a new sepcies for Belgium.
As to be expected on literature data they were only present in and very
close (never further than a couple of meters) to big patches of Scorzonera
humilis.

Interestingly the same was true for Tropidia fasciata. Several
circumstantial observations (densities of both sexes were highest in or
very closeby patches of Scorzonera humilis - while mapping several 100s of
ha I nevered saw them away from these patches; males patrolling and
guarding rosettes of S humilis, females crawling down S humilis with their
ovipositor extended, ...) make me believe S humilis might equally be their
hostplant.

Has anybody else made the same observation?


Regards,

Wout
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