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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Flies (Diptera) » "Aschiza" » Hover Flies (Syrphidae) » Syrphinae » Unidentified Immature Stages

Unidentified Immature Stages

Classification · Identification · Life Cycle · Remarks · Internet References
Syrphid Larvae Syrphid Fly Larva? Caterpillar? Larva? Tiny fly larva? Spiky Larva on Flower Unidentified Immature Stage - Posterior Lateral Eupeodes? Syrphid larva feasting on an aphid
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Diptera (Flies)
No Taxon ("Aschiza")
Family Syrphidae (Hover Flies)
Subfamily Syrphinae
No Taxon Unidentified Immature Stages
Identification
Larvae have pairs of locomotory organs on the first six abdominal segments. These are not true prolegs because they lack musculature and crochets.
Life Cycle
Raising syrphid larvae
Remarks
All syrphid aphid eaters are in subfamily Syrphinae. There is some advice on rearing them here.
Most syrphid fly maggots feed on aphids, thrips, leafhoppers and and other soft-bodied prey like small caterpillars. They move along plant surfaces, lift their heads to grope for prey, seize and suck them dry and then discard the exoskeleton.

A few larvae sorted out by similar appearance.
Probably many images in this section belong to the tribe Syrphini.

Many aphid eaters hide during the day and feed at night. Look for them at dawn or dusk.

To help with navigation of unidentified larvae:
Syrphidae larvae and puparia
Syrphini larvae and puparia
Internet References
U. Cal. Flower Flies (Syrphidae) and Other Biological Control Agents for Aphids in Vegetable Crops
U. Cal. Bugg, R. L.
Cornell U. Biological Control.
Dipterist Forum. Colour Guide to Hoverfly Larvae (Diptera, Syrphidae) in Britain and Europe. Graham E Rotheray.
Contributed by Beatriz Moisset on 7 December, 2009 - 5:59pm
Additional contributions by ceiseman
Last updated 17 September, 2016 - 7:40am

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