Total of 245 species either found or highly expected to be found in New York.
Genus | authority | common name | # in N.Y. | Defining characteristics |
---|---|---|---|---|
Brachyopa | Meigen, 1822 | Sapeater Fly | 8 | Face and scutellum tan to orange or yellow. Last section of R4+5 vein shorter than crossvein h. |
Chrysogaster | Meigen, 1803 | Wrinkleheaded Fly | 1 | Last section of R4+5 longer than crossvein r-m. Face entirely black. Antennae on lower part of head. |
Chrysosyrphus | Sedman, 1965 | Wrinkleheaded Fly | 1 | like Chrysogaster but antennae on upper part of head. |
Hammerschmidtia | Schummel, 1834 | Logsitter Fly | 2 | postalar callus, and scutellum with strong bristles. Hind tibia with short strong black spines. |
Myolepta | Newman, 1838 | Pegleg Fly | 3 | Front and middle femora with short strong spines near the apex. |
Neoascia | Williston, 1886 | Fen Fly | 3 | Small flies with petiolate abdomen, M1 forming a right angle with R4+5. |
Orthonevra | Macquart, 1829 | Mucksucker Fly | 4 | flagellum at least twice as long as wide. Eyes with horizontal or meandering lines. |
Sphegina | Meigen, 1822 | Pufftail Fly | 9 | Abdomen petiolate. Swollen hind femur with ventral spines. |
Hammerschmidtia is a Holarctic Genus of hoverflies. The larvae are found in sap under the bark of downed trees. [2] They appear quite unlike other syrphids, having drab colors and numerous bristles but on closer inspection they do have the general indicators of syrphids in a spurious vein. [3]
Three species of Myolepta occur in New York. [3] Keys and descriptions of this species was made by Fluke and Weems in 1956. [4] Larvae are described by Rotheray [5]
Neoascia(Williston, 1886) [6] Fen Flies These are very small (3.5–5 mm) black and yellow or metallic green flies with a narrow abdomen near the thorax. They occur mainly in damp places around plants. . Neoascia larvae have been recovered from wet manure in farmyards, and decaying vegetation at the edges of ponds. [7] In 1925 Curran reviewed the Genus Neoascia [8]
Four species Orthonevra(Macquart, 1829) of these small dark metallic flies are found in New York. Sedman divided this genus into two groups, the pictipennis group [12] of which N.Y. has O. pictipennis, O. Weemsi and O. pulchella and the Bellula group [13] with O. nitida being found in N.Y. This genus is one of the few where the eyes are ornamented with either horizontal medial lines or meandering lines across the eye. Keys and descriptions have been provided by Sedman. [12] [13]
These are distinctive small flies with a thin elongate abdomen and enlarged hind femur often with spines and or teeth. The larvae are found under bark in water soaked areas. Rotheray [7] has described European species and habitats as well as a key to larvae including sphegina and other syrphid genera. Keys to adult American species was provided by Coovert. [16] New York species can also be found southward especially in the Appalachian Mountains and also north to the New England States.
There are various keys online, Covert 1977 [16] Hull, 1935 [17] and Malloch, 1922 [18]
:{|class="wikitable"
|-! name !! authority !! common name!!prevalence |+ Sphegina (Meigen, 1822) |- | Sphegina brachygaster || Hull, 1935 [17] || Thick-waisted Pufftail || fairly common |- | Sphegina campanulata || Robertson, 1901 [19] ||Orange-horned Pufftail || fairly common |- | Sphegina flavimana || John Russell Malloch,1922 [18] || Tuberculate Pufftail || fairly common |- | Sphegina flavomaculata || John Russell Malloch,1922 [18] || Tooth-legged Pufftail|| uncommon |- | Sphegina keeniana || Williston,1887 [6] || Peg-legged pufftail || fairly common |- | Sphegina lobata || Loew, 1863 [15] ||Yellow-lobed Pufftail || uncommon |- | Sphegina lobulifera || John Russell Malloch,1922 [18] || Black-lobed Pufftail || uncommon |- | Sphegina petiolata || Coquillett, 1910 [20] || Long-spined Pufftail || uncommon |- | Sphegina rufiventris || Loew, 1910 [15] || Black-horned pufftail || common |- |}
Only one species of this tribe is found in New york in the genus Callicera (Panzer, 1809).
Ceriana(Rafinesque, 1815) has but one species in New York.
Sphiximorpha(Rondani, 1850) is represented by a single rare species in New York.
New York has an prevalence of Eristalids many of which are striking in color and exhibit mimicry to the bees. The larvae are of the rat-tailed type. Eristalis along with many sister species has the r4+5 vein making a distinct loop towards the rear of the wing. [11]
Genus | Thorax | Abdomen | Hind tibia | Other |
---|---|---|---|---|
Notes | This table is confined to New York species. | |||
Helophilus, key [23] | Longitudinal stripes | Abdomen oval, with large orange markings | variable | Stigma long |
Anasimia, key ( as Lejops) [23] | Longitudinal stripes | narrow | variable | |
Polydontomyia, single species | not striped | slightly narrowed, black with solid yellow-orange behind, all brownish gray in female | arcuate and produced into a long apical spur | |
Mallota, key [24] | not striped, Thick pile | compact and thick pile | without long apical spur | bumblebee mimic |
Parhelophilus, Key [25] | longitudinal stripes | compact | truncate at apex. | stigma short |
Eurimyia, single species | longitudinal stripes | sawtooth yellow spots | without long apical spur, two black rings | face produced into an elongate cone |
Large flies that strongly resemble bumblebees. The larvae of, M. cimhiciformis (Fallen) and M. posticata (Fabricius) develop in detritus-containing rot pockets, usually wet tree holes in upright deciduous trees. [26]
This tribe has only one genus
This tribe contains 17 genera with 56 species found in New York
name | authority | common name | # in N.Y. | Defining characteristics |
---|---|---|---|---|
Blera | Billberg, 1820 | Wood Fly | 7 | distinct frontal prominence, face downward and forward |
Brachypalpus | Macquart, 1834 | Catkin Fly | 1 | triangular face, thorax with thick yellow pile |
Chalcosyrphus | Curran, 1925 | Leafwalker | 10 | slender abdomen, enlarged hind femur, often orange legs. |
Criorhina | Meigen, 1822 | Bumblefly | 2 | large bumblebee mimics. |
Cynorhinella | Curran, 1922 | Longnose Fly | 1 | small thin black fly with large conical face. |
Hadromyia | Williston, 1882 | Quicksilver Fly | 1 | black fly metallic patches on abdomen |
Lejota | Wahlberg, 1843 | Trunksitter Fly | 2 | all black fly with distinct frontal prominence and straight face. |
Milesia | Latreille, 1804 | Giant Flower Flies | 1 | large yellow and black yellowjacket mimic |
Pterallastes | Loew, 1863 | Goldenback Fly | 1 | large fly with bright golden thorax. . |
Somula | Macquart, 1847 | Wood Fly | 1 | large fly with distinct antennifer and bright yellow abdominal spots. |
Sphecomyia | Latreille, 1829 | Yellowjacket Fly | 1 | long antennae black and yellow striped abdomen. |
Spilomyia | Meigen, 1803 | Hornet Fly | 4 | vertical eye stripe, yellow and black thorax and abdomen. |
Syritta | Linnaeus, 1758 | Compost Fly | 1 | inflated hind femur with orange spots, abdomen with rounded spots |
Temnostoma | Le Peletier & Serville | Falsehorn Fly | 7 | yellow stripe along transverse suture, abdomen with one or two stripes on each segment. |
Teuchocnemis | Osten Sacken, 1876 | Spur Fly | 2 | males with large spur on hind tibia |
Tropidia | Meigen, 1822 | Thickleg Fly | 3 | hind femur enlarged with triangular shaped process ventrally |
Xylota | Meigen, 1822 | Leafwalker | 11 | slender abdomen, enlarged hind femur, abdomen black or with yellow spots. |
Cynorhinella(Curran, 1922) is a rare genus in New York with a single species.
Hadromyia(Williston, 1882) a single species in New York
Lejota (Róndani, 1857) has two uncommon species in New York.
Milesia (Latreille, 1804) represented by a single, vivid species.
Pterallastes(Loew, 1863)
Somula(Macquart, 1847) has only two species worldwide, with one in New York.
Sphecomyia Latreille, 1829 is a genus of wasp mimics with one species found in New York.
Many species in Spilomyia are wasp mimics with black and yellow patterns and using the black front legs to imitate the wasp antennae. [39] The eyes on Spilomyia species are a distinctive characteristic which usually display vertical, and irregular stripes or blotches. [40]
Teuchocnemis(Osten-Sacken, 1876) species are more commonly found south of New York.
This tribe contains 5 genera and 8 species found in New York State
Genus | authority | common name | # in N.Y. | Defining characteristics |
---|---|---|---|---|
Cheilosia | Meigen, 1822[ | blacklet | 4 * | Small black flies with grooves along margin of face below the antennae. The face is distinctly tuberculate with a notched oral cavity. |
Ferdinandea | (Loew, 1863 | Copperback | 1 | striped scutum, bristles on scutum and scutellum |
Hiatomyia | Shannon, 1922 | Deltawing | 1 | small black flies with bare eyes and plumose arista |
Pelecocera | (Meigen, 1822 | Bighorn Fly | 1 | Small flies with an elongate abdomen, flagellum terminal style with an enlarged base |
Rhingia | Scopoli, 1763 | Snout Fly | 1 | very long, forward directed snout and a black with large yellow spotted abdomen. |
* additional species of cheilosia are likely to be found in New York. | ||||
This is a very large genus of little black flies with larvae feeding on plants or fungi.
Ferdinandea(Róndani, 1844) has a single species in New York with a second species, Ferdinandea croesus , reported but the identity is not confirmed. [11]
Pelecocera(Meigen, 1822) [32] only reported from Long Island but may be more common as the small size and habit of staying in low lying flowers may make this fly under-reported.
Rhingia(Scopoli, 1763) has only one species in North America.
Copestylum(Macquart, 1846) due to the larval habit of living in Bromeliads only one species is found in New York.
Volucella(Geoffroy, 1762) has two species that represent some of the best bumblebee mimics in New York. The larvae of most species live in nests of bumblebees and social wasps, where they are detritivores and larval predators. [42]
This is the newest subfamily and the smallest in New York. The adult fly looks very much like the flies in Eristalinae while the larvae are predators much like the subfamily Syrphinae. [43] The DNA evidence has been evaluated and concluded that Pipizinae are a sister subfamily to these subfamilies. [44]
Pipiza (Fallén, 1810) is a genus of small nearly all black flies sometimes with yellow abdominal spots. The larvae, when known, feed upon gall making or leaf rolling aphids. Pipizini. The larvae of Pipiza species (fig. 257) seem to prefer aphids which secrete a waxy flocculence, e.g. woolly aphid (Eriosoma). Pipizella larvae confine their attention to subterranean aphids feeding on the roots of plants.
Trichopsomyia(Williston, 1888) is another genus of small black flies that may easily be overlooked. Pipizella larvae confine their attention to subterranean aphids feeding on the roots of plants.
The nine New York species is a fraction of the 126 worldwide species. The Microdon larvae live in the nests of ants as scavengers or predators and unlike other syrphid larvae, have no apparent body segmentation.
The larvae of Syrphinae are predators of aphids and other plant feeding insects. The role in controlling populations if these occasionally destructive "plant lice' is of interest to science as a possible bological control agents. The adult flies are small to medium sized, many with black and yellow patterning. Many species have elongate bodies. The four tribes of the Syrphidae are well represented in New York with the Syrphini being the most divers and numerous of the tribes while Toxomerini contains the most numerous and widespread species Toxomerus marginatus found across new york for much of the summer.
Baccha(Fabricius, 1805) [28] has only one species in New York that is easily overlooked because of its small size.
(Schiner, 1860)
A very large genus, perhaps 220 species worldwide and 23 species possibly in New york. In New York state Platycheirus is divided into seven morphological groups based on the shape and ornamentation of the front tarsi and tibia and other characteristics. press "show" below to see table. Species can be difficult to identify, especially females. A key, description, maps, photographs [49] has been published and contains keys to both male and female of the species where possible,
group | front leg | other |
---|---|---|
Albimanus | Expanded probasitarsus, Tibia expanded over entire length | |
Ambiguus | Long curled seta at apex of profemur | |
Granditarsus | Expanded probasitarsus in P. granditarsus unmodified on P. rosarium | Distinctive abdominal markings |
Maniculatus | Expanded probasitarsus, | |
Peltatus | Expanded probasitarsus, tibia expanded at apex | |
Pictipes | Unmodified proleg | |
Sengus | Long posterior black seta on pro- and meso-tibia | facial pollinosity arranged in oblique ripples or punctures |
Chrysotoxum(Meigen, 1803)
Syrphini this tribe contains 15 genera and at least 38 species, though more are likely*, found in New York
Genus | authority | common name | # in N.Y. | Defining characteristics |
---|---|---|---|---|
Allograpta | Osten Sacken, 1875 | streaktail | 1 | small flies, thorax sides with yellow stripe, last abdominal segments lateral bands and parallel stripes. |
Dasysyrphus | Enderlein, 1938 | Conifer Fly | 4 | eyes pilose, abdominal margin grooved, abdomen variable yellow markings. |
Didea | Macquart, 1834 | Lucent | 1 | sinuous r4+5 vein, distinct yellow spots |
Doros | Meigen, 1803 | Potterfly | 1 | shiny black and yellow, wasp mimics. |
Epistrophe | Walker | Smoothtail | 3 | straight R4+5 vein lateral yellow spots on seg. 2, yellow bands on seg. 3&4 |
Epistrophella | Dušek & Láska, 1967 | Smoothtail | 1 | article needed. |
Eupeodes | Osten Sacken, 1877 | Aphideater | 5* | R4+5 straight, abdomen marginate |
Lapposyrphus | Dušek & Láska, 1967 | Aphideater | 1 | vein R 4+5 distinctly dipped, yellow abdminal spots variable |
Leucozona | Schiner, 1860 | none | 1 | thickly pilose, white anterior abdomen |
Megasyrphus | Dusek & Láska, 1967 | Gossamer Fly | 1 | vein R4+5 sinuous, distinct abdominal bands |
Melangyna | Verrall, 1901 | Halfband | 3 | working on it |
Meligramma | Frey, 1946 | Roundtail | 1 | vein R4+5 straight, slender abdomen with yellow spots along the sides. |
Meliscaeva | Frey, 1946 | Thintail | 1 | vein R4+5 straight, abdomen thin with broad yellow bands |
Ocyptamus | Macquart, 1834 | Hover Fly | 1 | very long slender abdomen, brown wing cloud. |
Parasyrphus | Matsumura, 1917 | Bristleside | 1 * | under review |
Sphaerophoria | Le Peletier & Serville, 1828 | Globetail | 5 * | straight R4+5 vein, slender abdomen with yellow stripes, scutum with lateral yellow stripes, male genitalia globose. |
Syrphus | Fabricius, 1775 | Flower Fly | 5 | straight R4+5, yellow face and scutellum, dorsal side of lower calypter pilose. |
Xanthogramma | Schiner, 1860 | Harlequin Fly | 1 | yellow stripes on scutum black, brown and yellow stripes on abdomen. |
Allograpta(Osten Sacken, 1875), [50] once recognized is found to be a common species across the state along with Toxomerus.
Dasysyrphus (Enderlein, 1938) have recently been reviewed. [51]
Didea(Macquart, 1834) has a single species in New York.
Epistrophella emarginata (Say, 1823) Slender Smoothtail
Leucozona(Schiner, 1860) with one distinct species in New York. Another species, Leucozona xylotoides, has been observed in states bordering the eastern border of New York.
Leucozona americana (Curran, 1923)American Whitebelt .
Melangyna(Verrall, 1901)
The Meligramma(Frey, 1946) species in New York is also common in Europe
Meliscaeva(Frey, 1946) our one species is also common in Europe.
New York species all with bright yellow and black abdominal markings the thorax is dark with yellow scutellum. yellow markings along the sides and hemispherical male terminalia
Eristalis is a large genus of hoverflies, family Syrphidae, in the order Diptera. Several species are known as drone flies because they bear a resemblance to honeybee drones.
Hover flies of the genus Microdon are unusual among the Diptera. Like other members of the subfamily, they are myrmecophiles, meaning they inhabit the nests of ants.
Mallota is a widely distributed Holarctic genus of hoverfly, well known for their bee-like appearance.
Xylota is a Holarctic genus of hoverflies similar in structure to the related genera Chalcosyrphus and Brachypalpoides. As the larvae are saprophytic they're usually found in rotting wood. The adult flies are generally associated with woodland and woodland edges and can often be seen running over the upper sides of leaves. Unlike other syrphids the adults of many species rarely visit flowers preferring instead to gather pollen from leaf surfaces. There are over 100 described species of which 12 can be found in Europe. Seven species have been recorded in Britain. Identification of species has been difficult and identifiction by photographs is risky.
Spilomyia is a genus of hoverflies. Many species in the genus show Batesian mimicry of wasp models, including black and yellow patterns and modified antenna shape.
Temnostoma is a genus of hoverflies. The larvae of some species feed on the wood of deciduous trees.
Platycheirus is a large genus of hoverflies. They are also called sedgesitters.
Criorhina is a genus of hoverflies. Medium to large sized species, black or greenish black, with or without light ground markings mimicking bumblebees. The head is much flattened and broader than the thorax. The antennae are situated upon a prominent conical frontal process, The face is moderately produced below the eyes, downward or forward, in profile. The eyes are bare. The abdomen is elliptical or very short oval. Larvae found in rot holes or decaying hardwoods
Blera is primarily a North American genus, though there are 3 species from Europe. The genus is characterized by the following characters:
Chalcosyrphus is a genus of hoverflies in the subfamily Eristalinae. Many species exhibit some degree of mimicry of various sawflies and other hymenopterans and are often brightly coloured or metallic in hue. The adults are similar in structure and behavior to the related genus Xylota but differ in larval morphology. They can be found throughout Europe, Asia, and North America and seem to prefer damper, boggy habitats. The larvae are saproxylic feeders in rotten wood in these habitats.
Orthonevra is a genus of fly in the syrphidae family with at least 59 species identified so far. They are worldwide in distribution but concentrated in the Eastern North America and Europe.Orthonevra are commonly called Mucksuckers after the larvae which have been found in organic rich mud, i.e. muck. This genus belongs to the tribe Brachyopini that includes the prominent genera Melanogaster, Brachyopa, Neoascia and Sphegina. Orthonevra have black heads with blue to purple reflections. Many species have distinctive eye stripes. The antennae are somewhat elongate. The frons is wrinkled with silvery spots at sides of antennae. The thorax with small punctures dorsally and in several species the body is covered with scale-like pile. Wingd vein M1 curves away from the wing tip.(see images)
Pipiza is a genus Hoverflies, from the family Syrphidae, in the order Diptera. Most are dark hoverflies.
Trichopsomyia is a genus of Hoverflies, from the family Syrphidae, in the order Diptera.
Chymophila is a subgenus of the hoverfly genus Microdon. It was previously considered to be exclusively Neotropical, but is now also known from the Nearctic and Oriental realms, and one species is known from Japan. Chymophila was based on a composite type species: the holotype is a body of C. fulgens with the head of a conopid glued on.
The Brachyopini is a tribe of hoverflies. Unlike many members of this family these flies are generally darker and less colourful though some genera contain species with an attractive metallic lustre e.g. Chrysogaster. Some like Brachyopa are associated with sap runs where their larvae feed on decaying sap. Others are found in boggy areas where their often semiaquatic larvae feed on decaying organic matter.
The Milesiini is a large and diverse tribe of hoverflies. They mimic wasps or hornets.
Palpada is a genus of 85 neotropical and nearctic flower flies or hoverflies This genus is often colorful and bee-like. It is in the tribe Eristaliini containing dozens of genera Common sister genera include Eristalis (99 species), Meromacrus (43 sp.), Eristalinus (100 sp.) and Helophilus (50 sp.). The genus palpada is distinguished by: