Introduced from Europe in the 1800s (BugGuide). Now fairly common in some parts of Maryland, but not especially widespread. Adults fly primarily May through October and visit a wide variety of flowers. They can be found near water and in agricultural areas.
Enlarged metafemora are distinctive of the genus. This species can be identified from photos with care. The other member of the genus found in Maryland, S. flaviventris, can be distinguished by the presence of a basal peg on the metafemur among other features.
Larvae are found in wet decaying organic matter (manure, compost, silage). Stages of Syritta pipiens have been reported from cow and horse manure, from guinea pig manure, and from human excrement. It has also been found in decayed and rotting tulip bulbs and in heaps of vegetable refuse (BugGuide).
There are 116 records in the project database.
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