Villa panisca
Local name: kontrastsvart klarvingesvävfluga
The kontrastsvart klarvingesvävfluga (Villa panisca) is a distinctive bee fly characterized by its contrasting dark body and clear, transparent wings that create a striking visual appearance in flight. This parasitoid fly plays a crucial ecological role as a natural biocontrol agent, with its larvae parasitizing various ground-dwelling beetle larvae and other soil-dwelling insects.
14
Countries
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Arthropoda
Class
Insecta
Order
Diptera
Family
Bombyliidae
Genus
Villa
Villa panisca belongs to the family Bombyliidae, order Diptera, within the Insecta class.
Species Profile
The kontrastsvart klarvingesvävfluga (Villa panisca) is a distinctive bee fly characterized by its contrasting dark body and clear, transparent wings that create a striking visual appearance in flight. This parasitoid fly plays a crucial ecological role as a natural biocontrol agent, with its larvae parasitizing various ground-dwelling beetle larvae and other soil-dwelling insects.
Villa panisca, a specialized bee fly, faces severe population declines primarily due to habitat loss and degradation of its preferred sandy heathland and coastal dune ecosystems. The species' parasitic lifestyle makes it particularly vulnerable to declines in its host bee populations, which are themselves threatened by agricultural intensification and pesticide use.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Villa panisca inhabits sandy heathlands, coastal dunes, and open woodland edges with sparse vegetation and exposed soil patches where host beetles breed. The species requires areas with a mosaic of bare ground for egg-laying and nearby flowering plants that provide nectar sources for adults.
Threats
IUCN Red List: Endangered
Villa panisca, a specialized bee fly, faces severe population declines primarily due to habitat loss and degradation of its preferred sandy heathland and coastal dune ecosystems. The species' parasitic lifestyle makes it particularly vulnerable to declines in its host bee populations, which are themselves threatened by agricultural intensification and pesticide use.
Decline of host bee populations due to agricultural intensification
Habitat loss and fragmentation of sandy heathlands and coastal dunes
Climate change altering suitable habitat conditions
Pesticide use affecting both the species and its hosts
Recreational pressure and development in coastal areas
Found in 14 Countries
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
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). Villa panisca (Villa panisca). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/kontrastsvart-klarvingesvavfluga