About Macrophya montana (Scopoli, 1763)
Macrophya montana (Scopoli, 1763) grows to a body length of 8 to 12 millimeters. This species displays clear sexual dimorphism. Females can be identified by their black and yellow markings. Their head is black, with a yellow clypeus and yellow labrum. On the abdomen, the first tergite is entirely yellow. The fifth and sixth tergites have broad yellow markings that are interrupted in the middle. Small yellow spots are present on the sides of the seventh tergite, and sometimes also on the fourth tergite. The ninth tergite is also yellow. These abdominal markings are absent in males, whose abdomens are completely black. Female legs are predominantly yellow with black markings. For males, the first two pairs of legs are pale yellow, while the hind legs are mainly black, with white coloring on the tips of the tibias and part of the tarsi. This common species is widespread across most of Europe, and is also found in North Africa, Turkey, and Iran. It prefers habitats including forest edges, thickets, and slopes, and occurs across a wide range of elevations above sea level.
