White-footed Hoverfly - Platycheirus albimanus

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Description

This is a relatively small hoverfly with grey-silver spots, though in the male these can have a bronze tint. The 'pale foot' refers to the pale swelling in the front tibia (foot) of the male; however other Platycheirus species have this too.

Identification difficulty
Habitat

Hedgerows and gardens.

When to see it

March to November, peaking in May/early June and again in July/August.

Life History

The larvae are found on low growing bushes where they eat aphids.

UK Status

Common and widespread in Britain.

VC55 Status

Common in Leicestershire and Rutland.

  • David Nicholls
    Ratby garden1
    30 July 2005
    female
  • HAPeacock
    Leicester Garden
    12 July 2013
  • Paul Ruddoch
    Melton Country Park
    16 August 2015
    male - on Gypsywort
  • Kate Nightingale
    Cropston garden
    10 July 2014
  • Paul Ruddoch
    Melton Country Park
    06 May 2015
    female - on dandelion
  • David Nicholls
    Barkestone, Middle St verge
    22 April 2021

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2020+ | 2015-2019 | pre-2015

UK Map

Species data profile ?

Species profile

Species group:
Hoverflies
Kingdom:
Animalia
Order:
Diptera
Family:
Syrphidae
Records on NatureSpot:
237
First record:
02/07/1989 (Maggie Frankum;Neil Frankum)
Last record:
14/05/2024 (Graves, Hazel)

Total records by month

% of records within its species group

10km squares with records

The latest images and records displayed below include those awaiting verification checks so we cannot guarantee that every identification is correct. Once accepted, the record displays a green tick.

In the Latest Records section, click on the header to sort A-Z, and again to sort Z-A. Use the header boxes to filter the list.

Latest images

Latest records

  • David Nicholls
    Cloud Wood
    04 May 2023
  • HAPeacock
    Leicester Garden
    12 July 2013
  • Paul Ruddoch
    Memorial Gardens Melton Mowbray
    07 May 2015
    female - gap between the eyes
  • Paul Ruddoch
    Melton Country Park
    14 July 2015
    female
  • David Nicholls
    Ratby garden1
    30 July 2005
    female
  • Paul Ruddoch
    Memorial Gardens Melton Mowbray
    07 May 2015
    female - on Forget-me-not
  • Paul Ruddoch
    Melton Country Park
    12 July 2015
  • Paul Ruddoch
    Melton Country Park
    19 April 2015
  • Paul Ruddoch
    Priors Close
    26 April 2015
  • Paul Ruddoch
    Melton Country Park
    05 July 2015
    male - eyes together
  • Paul Ruddoch
    Melton Country Park
    08 July 2015
  • Paul Ruddoch
    Melton Country Park
    15 June 2015
  • Paul Ruddoch
    Melton Country Park
    14 July 2015
  • Paul Ruddoch
    Melton Country Park
    15 July 2015
  • Paul Ruddoch
    Memorial Gardens Melton Mowbray
    07 May 2015