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Shropshire Invertebrates Group - Invertebrates of Shropshire
Cheilosia bergenstammi - a hoverfly

Hoverflies are very varied in colour and form. Amongst the 270 plus species in the United Kingdom is the large genus Cheilosia. This genus contains mainly black coloured, rather mundane looking flies. However many species are clothed in brightly coloured hairs, such as this species, Cheilosia bergenstammi, which has golden yellow hairs that only show up on close inspection. C bergenstammi is an uncommon species in the UK, but appears to be relatively frequent in Shropshire. It is thought to live out its larval stages in ragwort.