Hoverflies, also called flower flies or syrphids, make up the
insectfamilySyrphidae. As their
common name suggests, they are often seen
hovering or nectaring at
flowers; the adults of many
species 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.
Insects such as
aphids are considered
croppests, and therefore the aphid-eating larvae of some hoverflies are economically and ecologically important
predator and potential agents for use in
biological control, while the adults are
pollinators.
About 6,000 species in 200
genera have been described. Hoverflies are common throughout the world and can be found on all continents except
Antarctica. Hoverflies are harmless to most
mammals, though many species are
mimics of stinging
wasps and
bees, 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; in addition, male hovering is often a territorial display seeking females,[1]
while female hovering serves to inspect
ovipositing sites. [2][3][4]
Adult hoverflies often hover over the plants they visit
The size of hoverflies varies depending on the species.[5] For example Paragus tibialis[6][7][8] is 3–5 mm (1⁄8–13⁄64 in) long while Criorhina nigriventris is 13.6–20.6 mm (17⁄32–13⁄16 in) long.[9] Some, such as members of the genus Baccha, are small, elongated, and slender, while others, such as members of Criorhina, are large, hairy, and yellow and black. As members of the
Diptera, all hoverflies have a single functional pair of wings, with the hind wings reduced to
balancing organs.[10] Many species are brightly colored, with spots, stripes, and bands of yellow or brown covering their bodies.[10] Due to this coloration, they are often mistaken both by insect-eating birds and by humans for
wasps or
bees; they exhibit
Batesian mimicry. Despite this, hoverflies are harmless to humans.[5] Drone flies, Eristalis tenax, are an example of a species of hoverfly who exhibit Batesian mimicry.[citation needed]
With a few exceptions,[11] Hoverflies are distinguished from other flies by having a
spurious vein, located parallel to their fourth longitudinal wing vein.[5] Adults feed mainly on
nectar and
pollen.[10] Many species also hover around flowers, lending to their common name.[5]
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:[citation needed]
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
Unlike adults, the
maggots of hoverflies feed on a variety of foods; some are
saprotrophs, eating decaying plant or animal matter, while others are
insectivores, eating
aphids,
thrips, and other plant-sucking insects.[5][12] Predatory species are beneficial to farmers and gardeners, as aphids destroy crops, and hoverfly maggots are often used in
biological control. This includes one of the most common widespread hoverfly species, Episyrphus balteatus, whose larvae feed on aphids. Certain species, such as Merodon equestris or Eumerus tuberculatus, are responsible for
pollination.[citation needed]
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.[5] The species lives in stagnant water, such as sewage and lagoons.[13] The maggots also have a commercial use, and are sometimes sold for
ice fishing.[14]
Very rarely, hoverfly larvae have caused
accidental myiasis in humans. This occurs when the larvae are accidentally ingested from contaminated food.[13][15]
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.[20] Adults are often found near flowers, their principal food source being nectar and pollen.[10] Some species are
inquilines; for instance, members of the genus Volucella can be found in bumblebee nests, while members of Microdon are
myrmecophiles, found in ant or termite nests.[5] Others can be found in decomposing vegetation.
Pollination
Hoverflies are important
pollinators of flowering plants in many ecosystems worldwide.[21] Syrphid flies are frequent flower visitors to a wide range of wild plants, as well as agricultural crops, and are often considered the second-most important group of pollinators after wild
bees. However, relatively little research into fly pollinators has been conducted compared with bee species.[21] Bees are thought to be able to carry a greater volume of pollen on their bodies, but flies may be able to compensate for this by making a greater number of flower visits.
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.[22] Although hoverflies are often considered mainly nonselective pollinators, some hoverflies species are highly selective and carry pollen from one plant species.[23]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.[24] Nonvisual flower cues such as olfactory cues also help these flies to find flowers, especially those that are not yellow.[25] 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.[26]
Also, a number of interactions occur between orchids and hoverflies. The orchid species Epipactis veratrifolia mimics alarm
pheromones of aphids which attracts pollinating hoverflies.[27] Another plant, the
slipper orchid in southwest China, also achieves pollination by deceit by exploiting the innate yellow color preference of syrphids.[28]
Larvae of many hoverfly species prey upon pest insects, including
aphids and
leafhoppers, 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
companion plants to attract hoverflies. Those reputed to do so include Alyssum spp., Iberis umbellata,
statice,
buckwheat,
chamomile,
parsley, and
yarrow.[29] Larvae in the subfamily
Eristalinae live in semi-aquatic and aquatic environments, including manure and compost, and can filter and purify water.
Fredrik Sjöberg's [
sv] book The Fly Trap concerns his enthusiasm for hoverflies on the island of
Runmarö in the
Baltic Sea.[30] The 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.[31]
Identification guides
Skevington, J.H., et al., 2019. Field Guide to the Flower Flies of Northeastern North America. Princeton University Press
ISBN9780691189406. 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
ISBN1-899935-05-3. 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
ISBN9050111998.
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.
doi:
10.3752/cjai.2013.23
Bot, S. and Van de Meutter, F. (2023) Hoverflies of Britain and North-west Europe: A photographic guide (Bloomsbury Naturalist).
ISBN978-1-3994-0245-3.
^Ball, S.G.; Morris, R.K.A. (2000). Provisional atlas of British hoverflies (Diptera, Syrphidae).
Monks Wood, UK: Biological Record Centre. pp. 167 pages.
ISBN1-870393-54-6.
^Van Veen, M.P. (2004). Hoverflies of Northwest Europe, Identification Keys to the Syrphidae (Hardback). Utrecht: KNNV Publishing. p. 254.
ISBN90-5011-199-8.
^ Skevington, Jeffrey H. (2019). Field Guide to the Flower Flies of Northeastern North America.
ISBN9780691189406.
^
abLarson, B.M.H.; Kevan, P.G.; Inouye, D. W. (2001). "Flies and flowers: taxonomic diversity of anthophiles and pollinators". Canadian Entomologist. 133 (4): 439–465.
doi:
10.4039/ent133439-4.
S2CID55767580.
^Sajjad, Asif; Saeed, Shafqat (2010). "Floral host plant range of syrphid flies (Syrphidae: Diptera) under natural conditions in southern punjab, Pakistan". Pakistan Journal of Biology. 42 (2): 1187–1200.
^Primante, Clara; Dotterl, Stefan (2010). "A syrphid fly uses olfactory cues to find a non-yellow flower". Journal of Chemical Ecology. 36 (11): 1207–1210.
doi:
10.1007/s10886-010-9871-6.
PMID20924654.
S2CID23245484.
^Campbell, Alistair, J.; Biesmeijer, J. C.; Varma, V.; Wakers, F. L. (2012). "Realising multiple ecosystem services based on the response of three beneficial insect groups to floral traits and trait diversity". Basic and Applied Ecology. 13 (4): 363–370.
doi:
10.1016/j.baae.2012.04.003.{{
cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (
link)