About Myathropa florea (Linnaeus, 1758)
For explanations of terminology used here, please refer to the Morphology of Diptera. Myathropa florea individuals have a wing length of 7–12 mm (0.3–0.5 in). The dorsal surface of the thorax carries a characteristic black "skull" shaped pattern. The abdomen is black with yellow patterning. Legs display a mix of pale and black coloration. The larvae of this species were described and illustrated by Graham E. Rotheray in 1993. Consult the references listed for this species to aid in identification. In terms of distribution, Myathropa florea occurs across the Palearctic realm: it ranges from Fennoscandia south to Iberia and the Mediterranean basin, and from Ireland eastward through Europe and Russia. It has become an established introduced species on the Pacific coast of North America, where it has been present since 2005.
