Insect · GBIF taxon 1536559
Common Dainty
Baccha elongataAlso known as Slender Hoverfly, Waisted Hoverfly
Common Dainties are remarkably slender hoverflies with an exceptionally narrow waist and a club-shaped abdomen that makes them look almost threadlike in flight. Adults hover effortlessly in dappled sunlight along shaded woodland paths, feeding on nectar and pollen from low-growing flowers. Their inconspicuous larvae are nocturnal predators that crawl across leaves to hunt aphids and scale insects.
HoverflyPollinatorSlender
1 / 7—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Aphids
- Scale Insects
- Nectar
Predators
- Spiders
- Birds
- Robber Flies
ThreatsPesticide use targeting aphid prey and loss of damp woodland understory habitat.
HabitatsDeciduous woodlands, damp hedgerows, overgrown gardens, and forest edges.
Life span1 to 2 months as adults; up to 1 year including larval stage.
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderDiptera
- FamilySyrphidae
- GenusBaccha
- SpeciesBaccha elongata
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Spotting in field: Search damp understory shade for tiny flies suspended perfectly still in midair.
- Macro photography: Wait for adults to land on sunlit leaves or low blooms like bramble flowers.
- Garden conservation: Eliminate pesticide sprays to allow larvae to control pest populations naturally.
Family Member (c) Michael Knapp, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Michael Knapp · cc-by
Family Member (c) Dr. Guido Bohne, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Dr. Guido Bohne · cc-by-sa
Image unavailableFamily Member
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