heidegitje
Cheilosia longula
Cheilosia longula is a distinctive hoverfly species characterized by its elongated proboscis and metallic bronze-green coloration. Adults are important pollinators of wildflowers, particularly those with deep corollas that match their specialized feeding apparatus, while larvae develop in the stems and roots of specific host plants in the Apiaceae family.
27
Countries
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Arthropoda
Class
Insecta
Order
Diptera
Family
Syrphidae
Genus
Cheilosia
heidegitje belongs to the family Syrphidae, order Diptera, within the Insecta class.
Species Profile
Cheilosia longula is a distinctive hoverfly species characterized by its elongated proboscis and metallic bronze-green coloration. Adults are important pollinators of wildflowers, particularly those with deep corollas that match their specialized feeding apparatus, while larvae develop in the stems and roots of specific host plants in the Apiaceae family.
Cheilosia longula faces severe population declines primarily due to habitat loss and degradation of its specialized wetland environments. Climate change and agricultural intensification are reducing the availability of suitable breeding sites and host plants essential for this hoverfly's lifecycle.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Cheilosia longula inhabits traditional hay meadows, chalk downlands, and woodland edges where umbelliferous plants like wild carrot and hogweed flourish. The species requires a mosaic of flowering plants for nectar sources and undisturbed areas where host plants can complete their growth cycles for larval development.
Threats
IUCN Red List: Endangered
Cheilosia longula faces severe population declines primarily due to habitat loss and degradation of its specialized wetland environments. Climate change and agricultural intensification are reducing the availability of suitable breeding sites and host plants essential for this hoverfly's lifecycle.
Agricultural intensification and pesticide use
Wetland habitat loss and drainage
Climate change affecting host plant availability
Fragmentation of remaining suitable habitats
Found in 27 Countries
National vs Global Threat Status
How this species is assessed at the national level compared to its IUCN global status (EN).
| Country | National Status | Global Status | Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| EU | LCLeast Concern | ENEndangered | Lower local risk |
| EU | LCLeast Concern | ENEndangered | 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). heidegitje (Cheilosia longula). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/heidegitje