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Syrphidae
Simosyrphus grandicornis (above) other images of Syrphidae
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Arthropoda Subphylum: Hexapoda Class: Insecta Subclass: Pterygota Infraclass: Neoptera Superorder: Endopterygota Order: Diptera Suborder: Brachycera Section: Aschiza Superfamily: Syrphoidea Family: Syrphidae
Subfamilies
Eristalinae Microdontinae Syrphinae 200 genera about 6,000 species

Flies in the Diptera family Syrphidae are commonly known as hoverflies, flower flies, or Syrphid flies.

As their common names suggest, they are often seen hovering or nectaring at flowers; the adults of many species feed mainly on nectar and pollen, while the larvae (maggots) eat a wide range of foods. In some species, the larvae are saprotrophs, eating decaying plant and animal matter in the soil or in ponds and streams. In other species, the larvae are insectivores and prey on aphids, thrips, and other plant-sucking insects.

Aphids alone cause tens of millions of dollars of damage to crops worldwide every year; because of this, aphid-feeding hoverflies are being recognized as important natural enemies of pests, and potential agents for use in biological control. Some adult syrphid flies are important pollinators.

About 6,000 species in 200 genera have been described. Hoverflies are common throughout the world and can be found on every continent except Antarctica.^[1] Hoverflies are harmless despite their mimicry of the black and yellow stripes of wasps, which serves to ward off predators.

Hoverflies and gardening

Hoverfly larva

Many species of hoverfly larvae prey upon pest insects, including aphids and the leafhoppers which spread some diseases like curly top. Therefore they are seen in biocontrol as a natural means of reducing the levels of pests.

Gardeners, therefore, will sometimes use companion plants to attract hoverflies. Those reputed to do so include alyssum, Iberis umbellata, statice, buckwheat, chamomile, parsley, and yarrow.

Identification guides

A poster with sixteen different species of hoverflies

Characteristic wing venation of the Syrphidae

• Stubbs, A.E. and Falk, S.J. (2002) British Hoverflies An Illustrated Identification Guide. Pub. 1983 with 469 pages, 12 col plates, b/w illus.British Entomological and Natural History Society ISBN 1-899935-05-3. 276 species are described with extensive keys to aid identification. 190 species are displayed on the colour plates. 2nd edition, pub. 2002, includes new British species and name changes. Also includes European species which are likely to be found in Britain. There are additional black & white plates illustrating the male genitalia of the difficult genera Cheilosia and Sphaerophoria.
• Vockeroth , J.R. A revision of the genera of the Syrphini (Diptera: Syrphidae) Memoirs of the Entomological Society of Canada, no. 62:1-176. Keys subfamilies, tribes and genera on a world basis and under regions.

Species lists

• Nearctica
• West Palaearctic including Russia
• Australasian/Oceanian

See also

• List of Hoverfly species recorded in Britain
• Episyrphus balteatus - Marmelade Fly (worldwide distribution)
• Melangyna viridiceps - Australian hoverfly

References

1. ^ Flower Flies at the USDA Entomology site

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Syrphidae

Wikispecies has information related to:

Syrphidae

• Hoverfly - index to scholarly articles
• A web-site about Dutch hoverflies
• All About Hoverflies
• Hoverfly Recording Scheme - UK Dipterists Forum
• Syrphidae species in Europe, with photos, range maps and literature
• USDA Entomology site
• Large numbers of Syrphidae photos
• Northwest Europe Hoverflies - archived at The Wayback Machine
• Photographs of World Hoverflies from Japan, in English
• Diptera.info Picture Gallery
• a hover fly, Allograpta obliqua on the UF / IFAS Featured Creatures Web site

Wikipedia content modification information:

• This page was last modified on 5 October 2008, at 07:34.

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