Thick-legged Hoverfly - Syritta pipiens

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Description

Being small, this species is easy to overlook but the strange thickened rear leg make it easy to identify at close quarters.

Identification difficulty
Habitat

Gardens, rough meadows and along hedgerows.

When to see it

April to November, peaking in July and August.

Life History

It breeds in compost, manure and other rotting organic matter. Sometimes there are notable local population explosions, possibly due to mass emergence or perhaps migration.

UK Status

Common throughout Britain though less so in northern Scotland.

VC55 Status

Common in Leicestershire and Rutland.

  • David Nicholls
    Burbage Common
    16 June 2010
  • Mark Skevington
    Conkers
    21 August 2012
  • David Nicholls
    Ratby garden1
    15 October 2005
    male
  • Graham Calow
    Sapcote
    08 June 2009
  • Barbara Cooper
    Long Clawson
    07 June 2013
  • CAPochin
    Gartree Road, Burton Overy
    03 April 2023

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2020+ | 2015-2019 | pre-2015

UK Map

Species data profile ?

Species profile

Species group:
Hoverflies
Kingdom:
Animalia
Order:
Diptera
Family:
Syrphidae
Records on NatureSpot:
335
First record:
15/09/2005 (Nicholls, David)
Last record:
11/09/2023 (Pugh, Dylan)

Total records by month

% of records within its species group

10km squares with records

The latest images and records displayed below include those awaiting verification checks so we cannot guarantee that every identification is correct. Once accepted, the record displays a green tick.

In the Latest Records section, click on the header to sort A-Z, and again to sort Z-A. Use the header boxes to filter the list.

Latest images

Latest records

  • Graham Calow
    Sapcote
    14 July 2012
    female
  • Graham Calow
    Sapcote
    08 June 2009
    female
  • Paul Ruddoch
    Melton Country Park
    17 August 2015
  • David Nicholls
    Bagworth Heath
    19 May 2011
  • David Nicholls
    Groby Pool
    15 September 2005
    female
  • Paul Ruddoch
    Melton Country Park
    17 August 2015
  • David Nicholls
    Martinshaw Wood
    17 July 2010
  • Paul Ruddoch
    Melton Country Park
    10 June 2015
  • Paul Ruddoch
    Melton Country Park
    20 July 2015
  • Paul Ruddoch
    Melton Mowbray Country Park
    30 August 2014
    female
  • HAPeacock
    Leicester Garden
    10 August 2012
  • HAPeacock
    Leicester Garden
    10 August 2012
  • David Nicholls
    Nature Alive
    02 September 2010
  • HAPeacock
    Leicester Garden
    02 June 2013
  • egaten
    Thurlaston garden
    01 September 2014
  • Paul Ruddoch
    Melton Country Park
    03 July 2015
  • HAPeacock
    Leicester Garden
    16 August 2011
  • David Nicholls
    Watermead Country Park
    14 July 2007
  • David Nicholls
    Burbage Common
    01 July 2011
  • Barbara Cooper
    Long Clawson
    07 June 2013
  • Paul Ruddoch
    Melton Country Park
    14 July 2015