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★ ''For the helicopter see: Sikorsky R-4
Flies in the Diptera family 'Syrphidae' are commonly known as 'hoverflies', 'flower flies', or 'Syrphid flies'.
As their common names suggest, they are often seen hovering or nectaring at 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 saprotrophs, 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 recognized as important natural enemies of pests, and potential agents for use in biological control. Adult syrphid flies are important pollinators.
About 6,000 species in 200 genera have been described.

Contents

Hoverflies and gardening

Gallery

Identification guides

Species lists

See also

External links

Hoverflies and gardening

Hoverfly larvae prey upon pest insects, including the leafhoppers which spread some diseases like curly top. Therefore they are seen in agriculture as a natural means of reducing the risk of diseases like curly top.
Gardeners, therefore, will sometimes use companion plants to attract hoverflies. Those reputed to do so include alyssum, Iberis umbellata, statice, buckwheat, chamomile, parsley, and yarrow.

Gallery

Identification guides

★ Stubbs, A.E. and Falk, S.J. (2002) ''British Hoverflies An Illustrated Identification Guide''. Originally published in 1983 with 469 pages, 12 col plates, b/w illus.British Entomological and Natural History Society [ISBN 1-899935-05-3]. 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. An extensively revised 'second edition' was published in 2002. This incorporates the new species added to the British list since 1983 and includes many name changes. The keys have been extensively revised to include the additional species, and also to include a number of European species which are considered likely to be found in Britain. There are 17 additional black & white plates illustrating the male genitalia of the difficult genera ''Cheilosia'' and ''Sphaerophoria''.

★ 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.

Species lists

★ Nearctica

★ West Palaearctic including Russia

★ Australasian/Oceanian

See also

★ Bibliography covers morphology, identification, taxonomy, biology and faunistics

★ List of Hoverfly species recorded in Britain

External links

★ All About Hoverflies

★ The web-site of the British Hoverfly Recording Scheme includes photos, maps and species accounts

★ Syrphidae species in Europe, with photos, range maps and literature

★ USDA Entomology site

★ Large numbers of Syrphidae photos

★ Northwest European Hoverflies: identification keys and photos

★ Identification key for Volucella species

★ Photographs of World Hoverflies from Japan, in English

★ Diptera.info Picture Gallery