Milesiini
Guides
Chalcosyrphus
Leafwalkers
Chalcosyrphus is a genus of hoverflies (family Syrphidae) in the subfamily Eristalinae, commonly known as leafwalkers. Species are notable for mimicking sawflies and other hymenopterans, often displaying bright or metallic coloration. Adults are structurally and behaviorally similar to the related genus Xylota but differ in larval morphology. The genus occurs across Europe, Asia, and North America, with larvae being saproxylic feeders in rotten wood.
Criorhina aurea
Criorhina aurea is a species of hoverfly (family Syrphidae) described by Lovett in 1919. It belongs to the tribe Milesiini within the subfamily Eristalinae. The species is known from North America, with records from Canada and the United States. As with other members of the genus Criorhina, it likely exhibits bumblebee mimicry, a common trait among hoverflies in this group.
Pterallastes
Pterallastes is a genus of bee-mimicking hoverflies (family Syrphidae) described by Loew in 1863. The genus contains four recognized species with a disjunct distribution: one species in North America (P. thoracicus), one in Japan (P. unicolor), and two in China (P. bomboides, P. bettyae). These flies exhibit Batesian mimicry of bees, a common defensive strategy in the subfamily Eristalinae.
Sphecomyia brevicornis
Short-horned Yellowjacket Fly
Sphecomyia brevicornis is a species of syrphid fly (flower fly) notable for its striking mimicry of yellowjacket wasps. It belongs to a small genus of wasp-mimicking flies that exhibit exceptional morphological convergence with vespid wasps. The species was described by Osten Sacken in 1877. Its specific epithet 'brevicornis' refers to the relatively short antennae compared to related species.
Sphecomyia weismani
Sphecomyia weismani is a hoverfly species described in 2019, one of seven new species identified during a comprehensive revision of the genus Sphecomyia. It belongs to the S. pattonii species group, distinguished from other Sphecomyia by the absence of pruinose scutellar vittae. The species is a wasp mimic, exhibiting the characteristic large size and yellow-and-black coloration typical of this Holarctic genus. Like other members of subtribe Criorhinina, it likely develops in decaying wood or rot holes, though specific larval biology remains undocumented.
Syritta
Syritta is a genus of hoverflies (family Syrphidae) with approximately 18 recognized species. The genus likely originated in the Afrotropical region, where the majority of species diversity occurs. Only six species are known from the Palearctic region, with two species—S. flaviventris and S. pipiens—occurring in North America, probably introduced by humans. S. pipiens is the most widespread and commonly encountered species, distributed across Eurasia and North America.
Teuchocnemis
Spur Flies
Teuchocnemis is a small genus of North American flower flies (family Syrphidae) commonly known as spur flies. The genus contains two recognized species: T. bacuntius and T. lituratus. Members are placed in the subfamily Eristalinae and tribe Milesiini.