Hoverflies
Guides
Brachyopini
Chrysogastrini
Brachyopini is a tribe of hoverflies (Diptera: Syrphidae) in the subfamily Eristalinae. The tribe contains approximately 20 genera divided into two subtribes: Brachyopina and Spheginina. Members are generally darker and less colorful than many other hoverflies, though some genera such as Chrysogaster exhibit metallic luster. The tribe has been recorded across Europe including the Iberian Peninsula and Ukraine, with new species continuing to be described.
Callicerini
Callicerini is a small tribe of hoverflies (family Syrphidae) within the subfamily Eristalinae. It contains two genera: Callicera and Notiocheilosia. Members of this tribe are characterized by distinctive morphological features, particularly in the antennae and facial structure. The tribe was established by Camillo Rondani in 1856.
Chrysogaster
Low-horned Wrinkleheads
Chrysogaster is a genus of small hoverflies in the subfamily Eristalinae. Adults are dark or black with shiny colorful reflections and visit flowers in damp marshy areas. The aquatic larvae possess a short posterior breathing siphon, shorter than that of related genera such as Eristalis. Several related genera—Melanogaster, Orthonevra, Lejogaster, and Riponnensia—were formerly classified within Chrysogaster.
Eosalpingogaster
Eosalpingogaster is a genus of flower flies (Syrphidae) established by Hull in 1949 and elevated to full generic status based on adult morphology, biological data, and molecular phylogenetics. Species in this genus are specialized predators of carmine cochineal insects (Dactylopius spp., Dactylopiidae), which are the source of carminic acid used in red dyes. The genus includes multiple species, with two new species described in a 2011 revision.
Episyrphus
Aphid Hover Flies
Episyrphus is a genus of hoverflies in the subfamily Syrphinae, commonly known as aphid hover flies. The genus contains two recognized subgenera: Episyrphus and Asiobaccha, with the latter distinguished by a petiolate abdomen. Larvae are predatory, frequently preying on aphids. The most widely distributed species, E. balteatus, exhibits migratory behavior and has been extensively studied for its role in biological control. Taxonomic classification within the genus requires revision due to unclear species boundaries and environmentally variable diagnostic characters.
Helophilina
rat-tail maggot flies
Helophilina is a subtribe of hoverflies within the family Syrphidae, commonly referred to as rat-tail maggot flies. The subtribe encompasses approximately 19 genera and over 180 described species. Members are classified within the subfamily Eristalinae and tribe Eristalini. The common name derives from the aquatic or semi-aquatic larval stage, which possesses a long, telescopic breathing siphon resembling a rat's tail.
Merodontini
Merodontini is a tribe of hoverflies (Diptera: Syrphidae) within the subfamily Eristalinae. The tribe includes genera such as Merodon, Eumerus, and Psilota. Larvae of Merodon and Eumerus tunnel into plant bulbs, while Psilota larvae have been found in sap runs. Some species, particularly Eumerus strigatus, are phytophagous and pose potential risks to agricultural crops such as onion (Allium cepa). The tribe has been recorded across multiple continents including the Palaearctic, Afrotropical, and Neotropical regions, with new species and distribution records continuing to be documented.
Milesiini
Xylotini
Milesiini is a large, diverse tribe of hoverflies (Diptera: Syrphidae) in the subfamily Eristalinae. Adults frequently exhibit mimicry of wasps or hornets. The tribe encompasses numerous genera including Milesia, Xylota, Syritta, Chalcosyrphus, Blera, and Criorhina. Many species are saproxylic, with larvae developing in decaying wood or under bark.
Myolepta
Pegleg Flies
Myolepta is a cosmopolitan genus of hoverflies (Syrphidae) in the tribe Brachyopini, most closely related to the genus Lepidomyia. The genus contains species distributed across the Indomalayan Realm, West Palaearctic, and Nearctic regions. One Chinese species, Myolepta sinica, has been documented with host plant associations.
Nuntianus
Nuntianus is a genus of hoverflies (family Syrphidae) described by Miranda in 2020. It belongs to the tribe Syrphini, a diverse group of flower-visiting flies. The genus was established relatively recently, and its species are found in the Neotropical region. Members of this genus share morphological characteristics that distinguish them from related syrphine genera, though detailed biological studies remain limited.
Palpada
Plushback Flies
Palpada is a genus of 85 species of flower flies (hoverflies) in the tribe Eristalini, distributed across the Neotropical and Nearctic regions. Adults are often colorful and bee-like in appearance. The genus is distinguished from related Eristalini genera by specific morphological characters including uniform eye pile, pale hairs on the meron, and distinctive wing venation. Larvae are aquatic 'rat-tailed' maggots with extensible breathing siphons that allow survival in low-oxygen environments.
Psilota
Psilota is a genus of small hoverflies in the family Syrphidae. Adults are characterized by black coloration, long wings, and the absence of a vena spuria—a wing feature present in most other hoverfly genera. The genus is most diverse in Australia, where 34 species have been documented, though it also occurs in Europe and other regions. Larvae are known to feed on tree sap.
Rhingiini
Rhingiini hoverflies
Rhingiini is a tribe of hoverflies (Diptera: Syrphidae) within the subfamily Eristalinae. The tribe contains approximately 13 genera, including the well-known genus Cheilosia and the type genus Rhingia. Members are documented across the Palearctic and other regions, with recent studies expanding known distributions in areas such as Ukraine.
Syrphini
hoverflies
Syrphini is a globally distributed tribe of hoverflies (family Syrphidae) comprising approximately 37 recognized genera and hundreds of species. Members exhibit classic hoverfly morphology with compact bodies, large compound eyes, and the characteristic hovering flight behavior. The tribe is taxonomically diverse, with particularly notable patterns in the Neotropical region where species are concentrated in two large, highly diverse genera, contrasting with other zoogeographic regions where moderate-sized genera predominate. The group has been subject to recent taxonomic revision, with eight new genera and multiple subgenera described in recent decades.
Temnostoma
Falsehorn Flies
Temnostoma is a genus of hoverflies (Syrphidae) renowned for their sophisticated Batesian mimicry of wasps. Adults possess overall morphological resemblance to hymenopterans, including darkened wing margins that mimic the folded wings of vespid wasps at rest. A distinctive behavioral adaptation involves waving the forelegs in front of the head to simulate wasp antennae. The genus comprises approximately 25 described species distributed across the Holarctic region, with larvae that are saproxylic—developing in wet, decaying wood where they feed on microorganisms.
Tropidia
flower flies, hover flies
Tropidia is a genus of hoverflies (family Syrphidae) containing approximately 20 species distributed across the Northern Hemisphere. These flower flies are characterized by their distinctive wing venation and often bold color patterns. The genus includes four species recorded from Northeastern North America, with Tropidia albistylum recently documented in Canada. Species in this genus are typically found in forested habitats and are associated with flowers for nectar feeding.
Xanthogramma
Harlequin Flies
Xanthogramma is a genus of medium-sized hoverflies (Syrphidae) commonly known as harlequin flies. Most species exhibit black and yellow coloration with somewhat wasp-like appearance. Larvae are aphidophagous predators, feeding on aphid populations in agricultural and natural ecosystems. Adults visit flowers but do not share the predatory habits of larvae. The genus occurs across the Palaearctic region including Europe, Asia, and North Africa.