heidegitje
Cheilosia longula
Overview
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.
Habitat
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.
Other threatened species in Syrphidae
Threatened in Åland Islands
Frequently asked questions
Why is heidegitje classified as Endangered?
Where does heidegitje live?
What are the main threats to heidegitje?
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