# Blera fallax

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***Blera fallax***, the **pine hoverfly** or **roodkapje**, is a [rare species](/source/Rare_species) of [hoverfly](/source/Hoverfly) normally associated with mature pine trees in [Northern](/source/Northern_Europe) and [Central Europe](/source/Central_Europe).[5]

## Distribution and habitat

*Blera fallax* is found in northern and central Eurasia from central Scandinavia east to Siberia and Japan, with a relict population in Scotland. At lower latitudes they are typically found in mountain forests where there are more pine and spruce, even up to subalpine dwarf mountain pine (*[Pinus mugo](/source/Pinus_mugo)*) forests. They prefer pine forests, particularly [Scots pine](/source/Scots_pine) (*Pinus sylvestris*) but also other pine species and [spruce](/source/Spruce) (*[Picea](/source/Picea)* where there is high humidity and rotting dead timber.[6]

## Biology

*Blera fallax* [larva](/source/Larva), which are of the [rat-tailed maggot](/source/Rat-tailed_maggot) type, normally develop in damp rot holes of felled or fallen pine trees, notably the Scots pine, though it will occur with other [conifers](/source/Conifer). Preference is for large stumps where there has been some [heartwood](/source/Heartwood) softening by the [fungus](/source/Fungus) *[Phaeolus schweinitzii](/source/Phaeolus_schweinitzii)*. Adult flies have been seen feeding on wild [raspberry](/source/Raspberry) flowers, but little else is known about adult behaviour.[7] Other authors have recorded the adults feeding on a wide ariety of flowers. The adult pine hoverflies have been observed sunning on the cut ends of conifer stumps and on the ground next to cut or fallen trees, The males fly fast and low through the forest clearing, through or close to the vegetation, especially close to clumps of plants, such a raspberries, that are in flower.[6]

## Conservation

*Blera fallax* has an isolated relict subpopulation in the pine forests of northern Scotland. In 2008, attempts had been made on [RSPB](/source/Royal_Society_for_the_Protection_of_Birds) sites to create artificial rot holes in felled pine stumps. These attempts led to a slight increase in numbers of adults in some areas, though numbers were still very low and prompted some concern.[7] In 2016, the species was only found at two sites in [Strathspey, Scotland](/source/Strathspey,_Scotland).[8] The Scottish subpopulation of *Blera fallax* was deemed to be critically endangered and "as rare as the [Scottish wildcat](/source/Scottish_wildcat) and even less common than the [giant panda](/source/Giant_panda)".[9]

In 2016, the [Royal Zoological Society of Scotland](/source/Royal_Zoological_Society_of_Scotland) began to breed *Blera fallax* larvae as part of a conservation breeding programme at [Highland Wildlife Park](/source/Highland_Wildlife_Park).[10][11] In April 2019, the programme announced their first captive adult flies, which were raised as larvae in [jam](/source/Jam) jars and pupated in [hummus](/source/Hummus) pots.[12] In 2020, the programme reported a then-record breeding season of 156 hatched larvae.[9]

After the 2021 breeding season, in which 130 larvae had successfully pupated,[10] the [Highland Wildlife Park](/source/Highland_Wildlife_Park) conducted staggered releases of larvae in October 2021 and March 2022 across three sites at [RSPB](/source/RSPB) [Abernethy Forest](/source/Abernethy_Forest) and [Glenmore Forest Park](/source/Glenmore_Forest_Park).[11] In October 2022, the *Rare Invertebrates in the Cairngorms* (RIC) project conducted surveys in the previously-unoccupied pine stumps around [Cairngorms National Park](/source/Cairngorms_National_Park) and concluded the pine hoverflies had completed a full breeding cycle and successfully bred a new generation of larvae in the wild.[13]

As of June 2025, the [Highland Wildlife Park](/source/Highland_Wildlife_Park) announced they had and will continue to conduct yearly releases of "thousands of pine hoverflies" in the aforementioned protected sites over the summer to strengthen the reintroduced *Blera fallax* and enable habitat expansion.[14]

### In popular culture

In March 2021, [Marvelous Europe](/source/Marvelous_Europe), a video game publisher, donated £20,000 to the RIC project.[9] Later that same month, they partnered with [Scummy Mummies](/source/Scummy_Mummies) co-host Ellie Gibson to raise awareness for the *Blera fallax* conservation programme by hosting a [Twitch](/source/Twitch_(service)) livestream of *[Story of Seasons: Pioneers of Olive Town](/source/Story_of_Seasons:_Pioneers_of_Olive_Town)* where participants would have the chance to name the hatched pine hoverfly larvae.[15] On 26 March 2021, the company held a "seed grower contest", where entrants were provided with a seed pack and asked to post weekly updates, and the winner who had grown the tallest seed would be given the honor of naming the new hoverfly incubation room at [Highland Wildlife Park](/source/Highland_Wildlife_Park).[16]

In August 2025, [Marvelous](/source/Marvelous_(company)) Europe and North America jointly announced plans to release Pine Hoverfly-themed outfit [DLC](/source/Downloadable_content) pack for their upcoming title, *[Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar](/source/Story_of_Seasons:_Grand_Bazaar)*, the net proceeds of which would go to the [Royal Zoological Society of Scotland](/source/Royal_Zoological_Society_of_Scotland)'s RIC project.[17]

## References

1. Shiraki, T. (1968). *Syrphidae (Insecta: Diptera)*. Fauna Japonica. Japan: Biogeographical Society of Japan. pp. Vol. II, 243 pp., XL pls.; Vol. III, 272 pp., XLVII pls.

1. De Geer, Charles (1774). [*Mémoires pour servir à l'histoire des insectes, vol. 4*](http://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k97153c/f65.image.r=.langEN). Stockholm: Grefing & Hesselberg. pp. 52–53. Retrieved 18 November 2014.

1. Panzer, Georg Wolfgang Franz (1804). [*D. Jacobi Christiani Schaefferi Iconum Insectorum circa Ratisbonam indigenorum Enumeratio Systematica*](https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/181857#page/13/mode/1up). Erlangae [=Erlangen].: Palmii. pp. xvi + 260. Retrieved 25 July 2021.

1. Fabricius, Johan Christian (1794). [*Entomologia systematica emendata et aucta. Tome IV*](https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/218712#page/5/mode/1up). Hafniae [=Copenhagen]: C.G. Proft. pp. [6] + 472 + [5] pp. Retrieved 20 May 2021.

1. Stubbs, Alan E. & Falk, Steven J. (1983). *British Hoverflies: An Illustrated Identification Guide*. 2nd ed. London: [British Entomological and Natural History Society](/source/British_Entomological_and_Natural_History_Society). pp. 1–253, i–xv. ISBN 1-899935-03-7.

1. Pennards, G.W.A.; Popov, G.; Speight, M. (2021). "*Blera fallax* (Europe assessment)". [doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-2.RLTS.T149170057A149170061.en](https://doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-2.RLTS.T149170057A149170061.en). Retrieved 7 April 2023.

1. MacGowan, Iain (2008). "*Blera fallax*" (print). *Bulletin of the Dipterists Forum*. '***(66): 14–15. UK: The Dipterists Forum. [ISSN 1358-5029](https://www.worldcat.org/issn/1358-5029)***

1. Edwards, Rob (1 May 2016). ["Rare Scottish wildlife left without legal protection"](https://theferret.scot/scottish-wildlife-without-legal-protection/). *[The Ferret](/source/The_Ferret_(website))*. Retrieved 12 August 2025.

1. Salmond, Catherine (19 May 2021). ["Breeding centre to preserve at risk pine hoverfly"](https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/19312239.breeding-centre-preserve-risk-pine-hoverfly/). *[The Herald Scotland](/source/The_Herald_(Glasgow))*. Retrieved 12 August 2025.

1. ["Hopes for record breeding season of rare hoverfly"](https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-56746434). *[BBC](/source/BBC)*. 15 April 2021. Retrieved 12 August 2025.

1. Cameron, Lucinda (10 June 2022). ["Endangered adult pine hoverfly spotted in wild for first time in years"](https://www.independent.co.uk/climate-change/news/cairngorms-britain-rspb-habitat-national-geographic-society-b2098126.html). *[The Independent](/source/The_Independent)*. Retrieved 12 August 2025.

1. ["Highland Wildlife Park captive breeding rare hoverflies"](https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-48348966). *[BBC](/source/BBC)*. 21 May 2019. Retrieved 12 August 2025.

1. Ramage, Tom (18 October 2022). ["Cairngorms breakthrough for critically-endangered insect"](https://www.strathspey-herald.co.uk/news/another-milestone-for-cairngorms-precious-pine-hoverfly-290819/). *The Strathspey and Badenoch Herald*. Retrieved 12 August 2025.

1. ["New pine hoverfly conservation strategy leads the way in protecting one of Britain's most endangered insects"](https://www.highlandwildlifepark.org.uk/news/new-pine-hoverfly-conservation-strategy-leads-way-protecting-one-britains-most-endangered). *[Highland Wildlife Park](/source/Highland_Wildlife_Park)*. 25 June 2025. Retrieved 12 August 2025.

1. Ross, John (24 March 2021). ["Gaming company helping to save rare species in its only UK habitat"](https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/highlands-islands/2995240/pine-hoverfly/). *[The Press and Journal](/source/The_Press_and_Journal)*. Retrieved 12 August 2025.

1. Sevakis, Justin (14 April 2021). ["'Larva Croft' and the Pine Hoverfly Set to Make a Strong Comeback in UK After Successful Conservation Collaboration Between Story of Seasons Publisher and Royal Zoological Society Scotland"](https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/press-release/2021-04-14/larva-croft-and-the-pine-hoverfly-set-to-make-a-strong-comeback-in-uk-after-successful-conservation-/.171717). *[Anime News Network](/source/Anime_News_Network)*. Retrieved 12 August 2025.

1. Van Autrijve, Rainier (12 August 2025). ["'Story Of Seasons: Grand Bazaar' Partners With The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland For Charitable DLC - Screens & Trailer"](https://worthplaying.com/article/2025/8/12/news/147184-story-of-seasons-grand-bazaar-partners-with-the-royal-zoological-society-of-scotland-for-charitable-dlc-screens-trailer/). *WorthPlaying*. Retrieved 12 August 2025.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Blera fallax](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blera_fallax) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blera_fallax?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.