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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Flies (Diptera) » Aschiza » Syrphid Flies (Syrphidae) » Eristalinae » Eristalini » Helophilus

Genus Helophilus

Classification · Explanation of Names · Numbers · Size · Identification · Habitat · Season · Food · Remarks · See Also · Print References · Internet References · Works Cited
5015358 Heliophis - Helophilus Syrphid fly from Iowa - question on genus - Helophilus Is this a syrphid fly? - Helophilus One Big Fly - Helophilus fasciatus - male Syrphid fly: Helophilus fasciatus - Helophilus - female syrphid on aster - Helophilus Which Helophilus? - Helophilus - male Which Helophilus? - Helophilus - male
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Diptera (Flies)
No Taxon (Aschiza)
Family Syrphidae (Syrphid Flies)
Subfamily Eristalinae
Tribe Eristalini
Genus Helophilus
Explanation of Names
Author of genus is Meigen. Greek helos ('ελος)- "marsh-meadow" + philo (φιλω)- "to like, love"
Numbers
Nearctica.com lists 34 spp.
Size
10-15 mm (Syrphidae of Oklahoma)
Identification
Lengthwise-striped thorax, transverse-striped abdomen. Compare the (typically smaller) Parhelophilus.
Habitat
Fields with flowers.
Season
Spring to fall.
Food
Adults take nectar.
Remarks
In this genus, eyes of males do not touch (like those of all syrphid females) and abdominal details are necessary to tell male from female.
See Also
Parhelophilus
Print References
Eaton and Kaufman, pp. 302-303 (1)
Internet References
Helophilus fasciatus--Cirrus Digital Imaging
Insects of Cedar Creek--fasciatus, hybridus, latifrons, also cf. Parhelophilus
Syrphidae of Oklahoma--describes and keys latifrons, fasciatus
North Carolina State University Entomology Collection lists from that state, with number pinned: anniae (4), chrysostomus (76--now Lejops chrysostomus?), fasciatus (66), integer (5), laetus (6), latifrons (11)
Washington DC Biodiversity--H. fasciatus
Works Cited
1.Kaufman Field Guide to Insects of North America
By Eric Eaton, Kenn Kaufman
Contributed by Cotinis on 22 September, 2004 - 12:49am
Additional contributions by Hannah Nendick-Mason, Chuck Entz
Last updated 18 November, 2008 - 6:48pm

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