Eristalinus

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Eristalinus: /ɛ.rɪˈsta.lɪ.nəs/

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Summary

Eristalinus is a genus of hoverflies with around 100 species divided into four subgenera, the majority of which fall under the nominate subgenus. The genus is characterized by its unique eye markings and preference for a habitat across several global regions.

Physical Characteristics

Most species possess distinctive eye markings in the form of spots or banding, which may fade in preserved specimens. They are stout flies and exhibit nimble flying abilities, even compared to other hoverfly species.

Identification Tips

Look for distinctive eye markings either spotted or banded; note that preserved specimens may show faded markings.

Distribution

Palaearctic, Afrotropical, Oriental to New Guinea; introduced into the New World and other regions.

Evolution

Historically divided into three clades based on morphological characters; recent studies suggest a division primarily into two clades based on both molecular data and male genitalia characters.

Similar Taxa

• Eristalodes
• Lathyrophthalmus

Misconceptions

Eye patterning was previously thought important for taxonomy but was found not to be a key feature for classification in recent studies.

Tags

• Eristalinus
• hoverfly
• Diptera
• syrphidae