Syrphidae
Melangyna viridiceps (above) other images of Syrphidae
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Arthropoda Class: Insecta Order: Diptera 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. Melangyna viridiceps is an Australasian Hoverfly, known in Australia as the common hover fly   Arthropods are Animals belonging to the Phylum Arthropoda (from Greek ἄρθρον arthron, " Joint " Insects ( Class Insecta) are a major group of Arthropods and the most diverse group of Animals on the Earth with over a million described True flies are Insects of the Order Diptera ( Greek: di = two and pteron = wing possessing a single pair of Syrphoidea is a superfamily of flies containing only two families under present classification one of which ( Syrphidae) has a great number of the The subfamily Microdontinae contains slightly more than 400 species of hoverflies (family Syrphidae and while diverse these species share several characteristics by which True flies are Insects of the Order Diptera ( Greek: di = two and pteron = wing possessing a single pair of In Biological classification, family ( Latin

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. For Wikipedia aspects see WikipediaNaming conventions (common names, WikipediaNaming conventions, and WikipediaStyle manual. A flower, also known as a bloom or Blossom, is the reproductive structure found in Flowering plants (plants of the division Magnoliophyta, also Nectar is a Sugar -rich liquid produced by plants It is produced either by the Flowers in which it attracts pollinating animals or by extrafloral Pollen is a fine to coarse powder consisting of microgametophytes ( pollen grains) which produce the male Gametes (sperm cells of A larva ( Latin; plural larvae) is a juvenile form of Animal with indirect development, undergoing Metamorphosis (for example Maggot is the common name of the Larval phase of development in insects of the order Diptera (flies 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. An insectivore is a type of carnivore with a diet that consists chiefly of Insects and similar small creatures

Aphids alone cause tens of millions of dollars of damage to crops worldwide every year, and so aphid-feeding hover-flies are being recognized as important natural enemies of pests, and potential agents for use in biological control. Biological control of pests in Agriculture is a method of controlling pests (including Insects Mites Weeds and plant diseases Some adult syrphid flies are important pollinators. A pollinator is the biotic agent ( vector) that moves Pollen from the male Anthers of a Flower to the female stigma of a flower to accomplish

About 6,000 species in 200 genera have been described. In Biology, a species is one of the basic units of Biological classification and a Taxonomic rank. A genus (plural genera from Γένος Latin genus "descent family type gender" is a low-level Taxonomic Hoverflies are common throughout the world and can be found on every continent except Antarctica. ^[1]

Hoverflies and gardening

Many species of Hoverfly larvae prey upon pest insects, including the leafhoppers which spread some diseases like curly top, and aphids. Leafhopper is a common name applied to any species from the family Cicadellidae. This article describes the plant disease For the Shirley Temple movie see 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. Companion planting in gardening and agriculture is planting of different crops in close physical proximity on the theory that they will help each other Those reputed to do so include alyssum, Iberis umbellata, statice, buckwheat, chamomile, parsley, and yarrow. Alyssum is a genus of about 100-170 species of Flowering plants in the family Brassicaceae, native to Europe, Asia, and northern Sea-lavender (also Sea Lavender, Sealavender) or Statice is any of 120 species of Flowers in the Genus Limonium Buckwheat refers to plants in two genera of the Dicot family Polygonaceae: the Eurasian genus Fagopyrum, and the North American genus Parsley ( Petroselinum crispum) is a bright Green, biennial Herb, also used as Spice. Achillea millefolium or Yarrow (other common names Common Yarrow Gordaldo, Nosebleed plant, Old Man's Pepper, Sanguinary

Hoverfly larva

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. In Biology, a tribe &mdashor infrafamily&mdashis a Taxonomic rank between family and Genus.

Species lists

• Nearctica
• West Palaearctic including Russia
• Australasian/Oceanian

See also

• Bibliography covers morphology, identification, taxonomy, biology and faunistics
• List of Hoverfly species recorded in Britain
• Episyrphus balteatus

References

1. ^ Flower Flies at the USDA Entomology site

External links

• All About Hoverflies
• The web-site of the British Hoverfly Recording Scheme includes photos, maps and species accounts
• Syrphidae species in Europe, with photos, range maps and literature
• USDA Entomology site
• Large numbers of Syrphidae photos
• Northwest European Hoverflies: identification keys and photos
• Identification key for Volucella species
• Photographs of World Hoverflies from Japan, in English
• Diptera.info Picture Gallery