Hoverflies, also called flower flies or syrphids, make up the insect family Syrphidae. As their common name suggests, they are often seen hovering or nectaring at ; the adults of many species feed mainly on nectar and pollen, while the () eat a wide range of foods. In some species, the larvae are , specifically , eating decaying plant and animal matter in the soil or in ponds and streams. In other species, the larvae are , preying on , , and other plant-sucking insects.
Insects such as are considered crop pests, so the aphid-eating larvae of some hoverflies are economically and ecologically important. The larvae are potential agents for use in biological control, while the adults are .
About 6,000 species in 200 genus have been described. Hoverflies are common throughout the world and can be found on all continents except Antarctica. Hoverflies are harmless to most , though many species are Batesian mimicry of stinging and , a mimicry which may serve to ward off predators.
Hoverfly hovering behavior is unlike that of hummingbirds since they do not feed in midair. Hovering in general may be a means of finding a food source. Male hovering is often a territorial display while seeking females,
while female hovering serves to inspect ovipositing sites.
Description
With a few exceptions, Hoverflies are distinguished from other flies by having a vein, located parallel to their fourth longitudinal wing vein. Adults feed mainly on nectar and pollen. Many species also hover around flowers, lending to their common name.
Bee flies of the family Bombyliidae often mimic Hymenoptera and hover around flowers, as well, rendering some bombyliid species hard to tell apart from Syrphidae at first glance. Hoverflies can, nevertheless, be distinguished in the field by anatomical features such as:
- The legs and mouthparts of hoverflies are usually not particularly long and thin (some bombyliids have a long and needle-like proboscis, many have legs that are noticeably longer and thinner than in similar-sized syrphids)
- Their facial cuticle often has prominent bulges and/or beak- to knob-like projections (most bee flies have an evenly curved or sloping face).
- The wings are often clear or have smooth gradients of tinting, and their veins merge posteriorly into a "false edge" that runs parallel to the wing's true rear edge and extends along half or more of the wing length (bombyliid wings lack a "false rear edge" and often have large dark areas with sharp boundaries, or complex patterns of spots).
- Their abdomens and thoraces often have glossy cuticular body surfaces, abdominal colors are usually mainly due to cuticular pigments (bee flies are usually very hairy, their abdominal colors are almost always due to pigmentation of hairs and not the underlying cuticle).
Reproduction and life cycle
An example of a well-known hoverfly maggot is the rat-tailed maggot of the drone fly, Eristalis tenax. It has a breathing siphon at its rear end, giving it its name. The species lives in stagnant water, such as sewage and lagoons. The maggots also have a commercial use, and are sometimes sold for ice fishing. Dictionary of Ichthyology; Brian W. Coad and Don E. McAllister at ww.briancoad.com
Very rarely, hoverfly larvae have caused accidental myiasis in humans. That occurs when the larvae are accidentally ingested from contaminated food.
Evolution
Distribution and habitat
While some hoverfly larvae are aquatic and are often found in stagnant water, those of species that prey upon aphids and other plant parasites are usually terrestrial, residing on leaves. Adults are often found near flowers, their principal food source being nectar and pollen. Some species are ; for instance, members of the genus Volucella can be found in bumblebee nests, while members of Microdon are , found in ant or termite nests. Others can be found in decomposing vegetation.
Pollination
Like many pollinator groups, syrphid flies range from species that take a generalist approach to foraging by visiting a wide range of plant species through those that specialize in a narrow range of plants. Although hoverflies are often considered mainly nonselective pollinators, some hoverflies species are highly selective and carry pollen from one plant species. Cheilosia albitarsis is thought to only visit Ranunculus repens.
Specific flower preferences differ among species, but syrphid fly species have repeatedly been shown to prefer white- and yellow-coloured flowers. Nonvisual flower cues such as olfactory cues also help these flies to find flowers, especially those that are not yellow. Many syrphid fly species have short, unspecialized mouth parts and tend to feed on flowers that are more open as the nectar and pollen can be easily accessed.
Also, a number of interactions occur between orchids and hoverflies. The orchid species Epipactis veratrifolia mimics alarm of aphids which attracts pollinating hoverflies. Another plant, the slipper orchid in southwest China, also achieves pollination by deceit by exploiting the innate yellow color preference of syrphids.
Systematics
Relationship with humans
Larvae of many hoverfly species prey upon pest insects, including and , which spread some diseases such as curly top, so they are seen in biocontrol as a natural means of reducing levels of pests. Gardeners, therefore, sometimes use to attract hoverflies. Those reputed to do so include Alyssum spp., Iberis umbellata, statice, buckwheat, chamomile, parsley, and
/ref> Many syrphids, such as Toxomerus marginatus
/ref> Larvae in the subfamily Eristalinae live in semi-aquatic and aquatic environments, including manure and compost, and can filter and purify water.
book ''The Fly Trap'' concerns his enthusiasm for hoverflies on the island of Runmarö in the [[Baltic Sea]].(2025). 9781846147760, Particular Books. ISBN 9781846147760The island is a hotspot for hoverflies and other insects; Sjöberg has collected 58 species of butterflies there, and (in seven years of hunting) 202 species of hoverflies, including 180 in his garden.
Identification guides
- Skevington, J.H., et al., 2019. Field Guide to the Flower Flies of Northeastern North America. Princeton University Press . This book "covers all 413 known syrphid species that occur in or north of Virginia, Kentucky, and Missouri, west to include Iowa, Minnesota, Ontario, and Nunavut, and east to the Atlantic Ocean, including Greenland."
- 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 . 276 species are described with extensive keys to aid identification. It displays 190 species on colour plates. 2nd edition, pub. 2002, includes new British species and name changes. It includes European species likely to appear in Britain. Additional black and white plates illustrate the male genitalia of the difficult genera Cheilosia and Sphaerophoria.
- van Veen, M.P. (2004) Hoverflies of Northwest Europe: Identification Keys to the Syrphidae. KNNV Publishing, Utrecht .
- Miranda G.F.G., Young A.D., Locke M.M., Marshall S.A., Skevington J.H., Thompson F.C. (2013) Key to the Genera of Nearctic Syrphidae.
- Bot, S. and Van de Meutter, F. (2023) Hoverflies of Britain and North-west Europe: A photographic guide (Bloomsbury Naturalist). .
Regional lists
- List of hoverfly species of Great Britain
- List of the Syrphidae of Ireland
- List of flower flies of New Zealand
- List of the flower flies of North America
- Syrphidae of New York State
External links
- Hoverfly – index to scholarly articles
- All About Hoverflies
- A website about Dutch hoverflies
- Hoverfly Recording Scheme – UK Dipterists Forum
- world Syrphidae checklist, including relationship with other taxa.
- Diptera.info Picture Gallery
Species lists
- Nearctic at nearctica.com
- West Palaearctic including Russia at faunaeur.org
- Australasian/Oceanian at bishopmuseum.org
- List of the flower flies of North America
- List of hoverfly species of Great Britain
- Syrphidae of New York State
- List of flower flies of New Zealand
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