Hover flies, also called flower flies or syrphid flies, 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.
Syritta pipiens, sometimes called the thick-legged hoverfly, is one of the most common species in the insect family Syrphidae. This fly originates from Europe and is currently distributed across Eurasia and North America. They are fast and nimble fliers, and their larvae are found in wet, rotting organic matter such as garden compost, manure, and silage. The species is also commonly found in human-created environments such as most farmland, gardens, and urban parks, wherever there are flowers. This species is an important part of its native ecosystem as adult Syritta pipiens flies are critical pollinators for a variety of flowering plants and the species supports parasitism by various parasitic wasp species. Thus, they play an important role in environmental functionality, and can serve as bio-indicators, in which their abundance can reflect the health of the environment. Syritta pipiens looks like many predatory hoverfly species, yet is not predatory.
The Syrphinae constitute one of the three subfamilies of the fly family Syrphidae. Most larvae of this subfamily feed on aphids. It is a monophyletic group with more than 1,600 species.
Sphaerophoria is a genus of hoverflies.
Allograpta is a very large and diverse genus of hoverflies present throughout the world except most of the palearctic region. The adults are brightly coloured flower pollinators and most larvae have a predatory feeding mode involving soft-bodied sternorrhynchans. Certain species have diverged from this and their larvae have been found to be leaf-miners, stem-borers or pollen-feeders.
Toxomerus geminatus (Say,1823) the Eastern Calligrapher, is a common species of syrphid fly observed in the eastern and central United States and Canada. Syrphid flies are also known as Hover Flies or Flower Flies because the adults are frequently found hovering around flowers from which they feed on nectar and pollen. Adults are 6.1–7.6 mm (0.24–0.30 in) long. The larvae are predators of a variety of aphids and mites.
Sphaerophoria sulphuripes, the forked globetail, is a species of syrphid flies in the family Syrphidae native to Western North America.
Syrphus knabi, the The Eastern flower Fly, is an uncommon species of syrphid fly observed in the eastern and United States and Canada. Syrphid flies are also known as Hover Flies or Flower Flies because the adults are frequently found hovering around flowers from which they feed on nectar and pollen. Adults are 7.2–12.9 mm (0.28–0.51 in) long. The larvae are predators of a variety of aphids in trees.
Syrphus rectus, the yellow-legged flower fly, is a species of fly in the family Syrphidae, the hover flies. Syrphys rectus is a common fly in the eastern United States and southeastern Canada. Like many hoverflies, it has strongly contrasting black and yellow bands on the abdomen.
Neoascia sphaerophoria is a species of Hoverfly in the family Syrphidae.
Heringia canadensis , the Canadian smoothleg, is a fairly common species of syrphid fly observed in many parts of North America. Hoverflies can remain nearly motionless in flight. The adults are also known as flower flies for they are commonly found on flowers from which they get both energy-giving nectar and protein-rich pollen. Larvae when known are aphid predators.
Platycheirus nodosus, known as the twospear sedgesitter, is an uncommon species of syrphid fly observed in Canada and The Rocky Mountains. Hoverflies can remain nearly motionless in flight. The adults are also known as flower flies for they are commonly found on flowers from which they get both energy-giving nectar and protein-rich pollen. Larvae are aphid predators.
Platycheirus normae, the paddlearm sedgesitter, is a rare species of syrphid fly observed in northeastern North America. Hoverflies can remain nearly motionless in flight. The adults are also known as flower flies for they are commonly found on flowers, from which they get both energy-giving nectar and protein-rich pollen. Larvae are aphid predators.
Platycheirus pictipes, the cobalt sedgesitter, is a common species of syrphid fly observed in Western North America and across Canada. Hoverflies can remain nearly motionless in flight. The adults are also known as flower flies for they are commonly found on flowers from which they get both energy-giving nectar and protein-rich pollen. Larvae are aphid predators.
Platycheirus varipes is a rare species of syrphid fly observed in Northern Europe: Norway, Sweden, Finland; Greenland; central Asiatic Russia; and in North America from Alaska and Canada south to Colorado, via mountain chains.
Pipiza puella, the sumac gall pithead, is a species of syrphid fly observed in eastern and Central United States, Canada and Norway. Hoverflies can remain nearly motionless in flight. The adults are also known as flower flies for they are commonly found on flowers from which they get both energy-giving nectar and protein rich pollen. Larvae when known are aphid predators.
Eupeodes pomus, the short-tailed aphideater, is a species of syrphid fly observed across North America. Hoverflies can remain nearly motionless in flight. The adults are also known as flower flies for they are commonly found on flowers from which they get both energy-giving nectar and protein-rich pollen. Larvae have been reported feeding from various aphids.
Total of 245 species either found or highly expected to be found in New York.
Epistrophella emarginata is a common North American species of hoverfly. Larvae are aphid predators When laying eggs, the female oviposits on the petioles of a leaf.
