Artiskok-urtesvirreflue
VU

Artiskok-urtesvirreflue

Cheilosia vulpina

UnknownLCEULCEU

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cheilosia_vulpina

Overview

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.

Threat summary

Habitat

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.

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Artiskok-urtesvirreflue classified as Vulnerable?
Artiskok-urtesvirreflue is classified as Vulnerable because the population is declining and the species faces a high risk of extinction in the medium-term future if current pressures continue. 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.
Where does Artiskok-urtesvirreflue live?
Artiskok-urtesvirreflue occurs in Armenia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Czechia, and Denmark (plus 16 other countries). Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Artiskok-urtesvirreflue?
The main threats to Artiskok-urtesvirreflue are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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