Bog Hoverfly Species Recovery Project

This small and stout-looking pollinator can be identified from other hoverfly species by its bright orange legs and two red triangular spots on either side of its abdomen. Very little is known about this species – its larvae have never been seen! Until this project, thorough Bog Hoverfly surveys hadn’t been carried out for many years, and this lack of information on its distribution and ecology has made targeted conservation efforts difficult.

The Bog Hoverfly is thought to be declining due to loss of habitat and degradation of peatlands through human activity. There is an urgent need to better understand this beautiful but mysterious species so that we can better protect it for generations to come.

What did this project do?

This project aimed to:

• Carry out targeted surveys to discover Bog Hoverfly larvae.
• Better understand the ecology of the species, as well as the habitats where the Bog Hoverfly is present.
• Work with partners to support the development of eDNA analysis if larvae are discovered.

In 2025, at the start of the project, the Bog Hoverfly was only known from a handful of sites across Dartmoor. We surveyed 13 sites in 47 visits during the peak activity season for the Bog Hoverfly. This was the most intensive survey effort done for the Bog Hoverfly in over a decade.

Two volunteers were trained on how to identify the Bog Hoverfly and how to carry out surveys for the species.

The species was recorded at two of the 13 sites, where six hoverflies were observed feeding on Bog Bean (Menyanthes trifoliata) and Marsh Marigold (Caltha palustris) nectar. Both sites were known locations for the Bog Hoverfly, which are thought to be strongholds, so it is positive that the Bog Hoverfly is still found here. Bog Hoverfly larvae however, was not found on any of the sites.

What’s next for the Bog Hoverfly?

In the spring of 2026, Buglife kicked off the ambitious Moor Invertebrates project. It aims to restore and improve habitats within the Dartmoor Important Invertebrate Area and in Dartmoor National Park, which is vital to the future of eight threatened invertebrate species, including the Bog Hoverfly.

How can you get involved?

If you think you may have been a Bog Hoverfly, please log that sighting with iRecord.

You might also like to find out about our other species recovery projects, as well as following our Moor Invertebrates project. Please contact Species Recovery Conservation Officer, Laura Krusin, [email protected], for more information.

If you would like to support Buglife’s work and help us continue to save the small things that run the planet, consider becoming a member.