Hoverfly

Syrphidae Temporal range: Eocene–Present PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
Sixteen different species of hoverflies
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Diptera
Section:	Aschiza
Superfamily:	Syrphoidea
Family:	Syrphidae Latreille, 1802
Subfamilies
Eristalinae Microdontinae Pipizinae Syrphinae

Hoverflies, also called flower flies or syrphids, make up the insect family Syrphidae. 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 crop pests, 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
• 
  Eupeodes fumipennis
• 
  Eupeodes volucris
• 
  Helophilus fasciatus
• 
  Syritta pipiens