Brachyopa cinerea
Local name: brun trädsavblomfluga
Brachyopa cinerea is a distinctive hoverfly species with a greyish-brown coloration and robust build, measuring approximately 8-12mm in length. This specialized syrphid fly plays a crucial ecological role as both a pollinator of woodland flowers and as a saprophagous species whose larvae develop in tree sap runs and decaying organic matter in forest ecosystems.
5
Countries
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Arthropoda
Class
Insecta
Order
Diptera
Family
Syrphidae
Genus
Brachyopa
Brachyopa cinerea belongs to the family Syrphidae, order Diptera, within the Insecta class.
Species Profile
Brachyopa cinerea is a distinctive hoverfly species with a greyish-brown coloration and robust build, measuring approximately 8-12mm in length. This specialized syrphid fly plays a crucial ecological role as both a pollinator of woodland flowers and as a saprophagous species whose larvae develop in tree sap runs and decaying organic matter in forest ecosystems.
Brachyopa cinerea faces significant threats from habitat loss and degradation of the mature deciduous and mixed forests it depends on for breeding and larval development. Climate change and forest fragmentation further compound these pressures by reducing the availability of suitable microhabitats and disrupting the delicate ecological relationships this specialized hoverfly requires.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
This species inhabits mature deciduous and mixed forests, particularly areas with abundant dead wood, tree hollows, and sap runs where larvae can develop. Adults are typically found in forest canopies and woodland edges with rich flowering plant communities.
Threats
Deforestation and habitat loss
Forest fragmentation
Climate change impacts on forest ecosystems
Loss of dead wood and tree hollows
Pollution and pesticide use
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 | VUVulnerable | VUVulnerable | Same |
| EU | VUVulnerable | VUVulnerable | Same |
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). Brachyopa cinerea (Brachyopa cinerea). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/brun-tradsavblomfluga