Flower-fly
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flower-fly
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Subfamilies
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about 5,000 species |
The flower-flies or hover-flies are a family of flies ( Diptera), scientifically termed the Syrphidae.
As one of their names suggests, they are most often seen around flowers; the adults feed mainly on nectar and pollen, while the larvae ( maggots) eat a wide range of foods. In some species, the larvae are saprophytes, 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, and so aphid-feeding hover-flies are being recognised as important natural enemies of pests, and potential agents for use in biological control. Adult syrphid flies are important pollinators.
Some syrphids, such as Volucella pellucens, mimic bees or wasps in appearance, sometimes bearing an alarming resemblance, both in shape and coloration to those insects. It is thought that this mimicry protects hover-flies from falling prey to birds and other insectivores which avoid eating true wasps because of their sting. However a flower-fly and a wasp can be distinguished by counting the wings. The flies have two wings, and the wasps and bees have four.
About 6,000 species in 200 genera have been described. One species, Eristalis gatesi, is named after Bill Gates [1].
A bibliography provided by .... covers the morphology,identification,taxonomy,biology and faunistics of the world fauna [2]
Gallery
 Episyrphus balteatus |
 Episyrphus balteatus |
 Hoverfly |
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 Volucella inanis |
 Flower-fly Ocyptamus |
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Identification
- 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.
- Stubbs, A.E. British Hoverflies An Illustrated Identification Guide 469 pages, 12 col plates, b/w illus.British Entomological and Natural History Society [ISBN: 1899935053]. 276 species are described and their identification is made easy by the extensive keys, which incorporate over 640 line drawings. The 12 superb colour plates by Steven Falk show 263 specimens depicting 190 different species.Good information on the family.