Subfamily Eristalinae

Classification · Numbers · Identification · Habitat · Food · Life Cycle · Print References · Internet References · Works Cited

Syrphid Fly Genus Parhelophilus - Parhelophilus integer

Syrphid - orange legs - Chalcosyrphus curvarius - female

Syrphid Fly - Eristalis stipator - female

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Diptera (Flies)

No Taxon ("Aschiza")

Family Syrphidae (Hover Flies)

Subfamily Eristalinae

Numbers

~500 spp. in 73 genera in our area(1)

Identification

Humeri pilose

Habitat

Larvae in moist, sometimes shallow aquatic environments

This subfamily has the widest range of larval habitats. Most Eristalinae larvae are saprophagous. They live in sap trails, under bark, in rot-holes in trees and in decaying organic material such as dung and compost. Some live as scavengers on the remains of insects and other material. Others are leaf miners, tunnel in stems and root. Some are specialize on wax-secreting aphids. Some are parasitoids in wasp or bees nests.

Food

Larvae of most feed on decaying organic debris. They are filter feeders in different kinds of aquatic media. They purify water by filtering microorganisms and other products. Some feed on bulbs and are considered garden pests.

Life Cycle

Some immature stages

Print References

Maier, C.T. (1982) Larval habitats and mate-seeking sites of flower flies (Diptera: Syrphidae, Eristalinae). Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington, 84, 603–609. (Full Text)

Internet References

Commanster.eu

Wikipedia

Works Cited

1.	Key to the genera of nearctic Syrphidae Miranda G.F.G, Young A.D., Locke M.M., Marshall S.A., Skevington J.H., Thompson F.C. 2013. CJAI 23: 1‒351.

Contributed by Beatriz Moisset on 10 March, 2005 - 1:57pm
Additional contributions by Chuck Entz, Aaron Schusteff, v belov
Last updated 18 May, 2018 - 12:52am

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