Environmental Records Centre
for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly

Hoverflies

There are 158 species of hoverflies recorded in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. This compares with approximately 270 on the national list. Taxonomic revision is continuously taking place and a number of new species have recently been split from previous taxa.

Hoverfly
Scaeva pyrastri
Photograph taken by Malcom Lee

Although species ‘new for Cornwall’ are still being found (e.g. one in 1998 and one in 2000), the known total of 158 cannot be too far short of the total hoverfly fauna for Cornwall. However, there are at least a dozen species thought to be ‘common’ or ‘frequent’ in southern England which have yet to be found here, plus numerous rarer species.

Records for the 158 Cornish species are held by the Records Centre (ERCCIS). The database contains records going back to 1872. It is apparent that the majority of records were obtained during three distinct periods: the first decade of the 20th century, the 1930s and post-1980. Many of the older records on the ERCCIS database tend to be from mid-summer in certain years, suggesting that they were noted by visiting naturalists on their summer holidays. There is a much broader range of dates in recent years. The older records tend to come from the western half of the county, although there is not a great range of locations. Hoverfly recording has enjoyed an upsurge in recent years, mainly due to the formation of the Caradon Natural History Club and the now defunct North Cornwall Natural History Clubs. This has resulted in the distribution now showing an eastern bias, so more records are needed from the western half of the county!

Hoverfly
Chrysotoxum cautum
Photograph taken by Leon Truscott

Hoverfly
Volucella bombylans
Photograph taken by Leon Truscott

Click here for the hoverfly species checklist for Cornwall.

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