Pipizella viduata

Description

A small, compact species (8 to 10 mm) with an all-black abdomen. The third segment of the antenna is about 1.5 times as long as wide in the male and about twice as long as wide in the female. It has a row of hairs on the anterior surface of the rear tibia that are only as wide as the tibia itself, which also helps to distinguish it from similar species. 

Similar Species

Pipizella virens has antenna that are longer and narrower (3rd sement: length = 2.5x width)

Identification difficulty
Habitat

Found on dry grassland, heathland and disturbed ground. 

When to see it

May to September, peaking late June and early July. 

Life History

Associated with root aphids on several plant species. 

UK Status

Widespread and fairly common in Britain. 

VC55 Status

Quite frequent in Leicestershire and Rutland. 

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2025+ | 2020-2024 | pre-2020

UK Map

Species profile

Species group:
insect - true fly (Diptera)
Kingdom:
Animalia
Order:
Diptera
Family:
Syrphidae
Records on NatureSpot:
7
First record:
19/05/2011 (Nicholls, David)
Last record:
02/06/2025 (Hunt, Graham)

Total records by month

% of records within its species group

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