Conopidae

The Conopidae, commonly known as the thick-headed flies, are a family of flies within the Brachycera suborder of Diptera. Flies of the family Conopidae are distributed worldwide in all the ecozones except for the for the poles and many of the Pacific islands.

The majority of conopids are black and yellow, or black and white, and often strikingly resemble wasps, bees or flies of the family Syrphidae, themselves notable bee mimics. A conopid is most frequently found at flowers, feeding on nectar with its proboscis, which is often long.

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Sicus ferrugineus

Sicus ferrugineus is a species of fly from the genus Sicus in the family Conopidae. It is common throughout much of Europe.

The body colour may range from golden-brown to chestnut-brown, with darker stripes and spots on the thorax. The face is broad and pale yellow between and below the eyes. The large eyes are reddish.The antennae are short. The abdomen is often curled forward when resting.

 

Length: Adults grow up to 8–13mm (0.31–0.51in) long; females are longer and slimmer than males When to see them: from May through to September Habitat: Rough grassland, especially that of woodland rides and margins Food: Adults can be found feeding on nectar or pollen of various Asteraceae species Thistle Cirsium species etc, Apiaceae species, Parsley Petroselinum sp.) and Rosaceae species, (Blackberries Rubus sp.)

Their larvae are endoparasites of a variety of bumble-bees of the genus Bombus (B. lapidarius, B. terrestris, B. hortorum, B. pascuorum, etc. They pupate and overwinter in their victims.

My Sightings:

18/7/16-Bryn Euryn, ‘Downs’ hillside on knapweed with Dk Green fritillary butterfly

30/7/2017 – Bryn Euryn, grassy, flowery ‘meadow’ on Knapweed