Explanation of Names
From Greek syrphos (συρφος), the name of a small winged insect, often translated as "gnat"
Identification
The only genus in the Syrphini that has long hairs on the lower lobe of the calypter is Syrphus and that is used to separate the genus from all related genera.
Another feature you will find in most Syrphus (but not in all and also in some species in other genera) is a dull mesonotum. Many Syrphinae have a strongly shining mesonotum, sometimes with two whitish stripes near the anterior margin. When you look carefully you can sometimes discern very vague stripes in some other species.
A character of Eupeodes not found in Syrphus is the margined abdomen. A second character (but be more careful with this one) is that Eupeodes has paired spots on the tergites that may merge to form bands. And that is where you have to be careful. (Comments by Paul Beuck).
"
Syrphus torvus has hairy eyes (more in the male than in the female).
Syrphus opinator is the common species in central California.
Syrphus torvus is more northern and early spring only.
Syrphus opinator has the abdominal fasciae (bands) restricted to the sides and isolated from the margins. There are other characters such as the distribution of microscopic hairs on the wing that separate these species."
. Comment on how to distinguish
S. torvus from
S. opinator by
Chris Thompson.
Life Cycle
1. Larva. 2.
Puparium. 3. Puparium ready to eclose. 4. Adult and pupal case
