Artiskok-urtesvirreflue
Cheilosia vulpina
Cheilosia vulpina is a distinctive hoverfly species with a robust, hairy body and metallic sheen that mimics bees in appearance. This specialized pollinator plays a crucial ecological role in alpine and subalpine ecosystems, particularly in the pollination of Asteraceae family plants including its host plant, the globe artichoke thistle.
22
Countries
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cheilosia_vulpina
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Arthropoda
Class
Insecta
Order
Diptera
Family
Syrphidae
Genus
Cheilosia
Artiskok-urtesvirreflue belongs to the family Syrphidae, order Diptera, within the Insecta class.
Species Profile
Cheilosia vulpina is a distinctive hoverfly species with a robust, hairy body and metallic sheen that mimics bees in appearance. This specialized pollinator plays a crucial ecological role in alpine and subalpine ecosystems, particularly in the pollination of Asteraceae family plants including its host plant, the globe artichoke thistle.
Cheilosia vulpina faces significant threats from habitat loss and degradation due to agricultural intensification and urbanization affecting its specialized woodland and forest edge habitats. Climate change poses additional risks by altering the phenology of host plants and disrupting the delicate timing between adult emergence and larval food availability. The species' dependence on specific plant hosts makes it particularly vulnerable to environmental changes.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Deciduous and mixed woodlands, forest edges, and clearings where adults feed on flowers and larvae develop in the stems and roots of specific umbelliferous plants. The species is typically found in semi-natural habitats with diverse flowering plant communities at elevations up to 1000m.
Threats
Habitat loss from agricultural intensification
Woodland fragmentation and degradation
Climate change affecting host plant phenology
Loss of traditional forest management practices
Urbanization and development pressure
Found in 22 Countries
National vs Global Threat Status
How this species is assessed at the national level compared to its IUCN global status (VU).
| Country | National Status | Global Status | Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| EU | LCLeast Concern | VUVulnerable | Lower local risk |
| EU | LCLeast Concern | VUVulnerable | Lower local risk |
National Red List data sourced from the National Red List Project (nationalredlist.org, ZSL) and country-specific Red List authorities.
Community Sightings
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Sources & Attribution
How to Cite
IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS
GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org
National Red Lists: ZSL (2025). National Red List. Zoological Society of London. Available at: https://www.nationalredlist.org
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). Artiskok-urtesvirreflue (Cheilosia vulpina). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/artiskok-urtesvirreflue