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Hoverflies, sometimes called flower flies or syrphid flies, make up the insect family Syrphidae. As their common name suggests, they are often seen hovering or nectaring at flowers; the adults of many species feed mainly on nectar and pollen, while the larvae (maggots) eat a wide range of foods. In some species, the larvae are saprotrophs, eating decaying plant and animal matter in the soil or in ponds and streams. In other species, the larvae are insectivores and prey on aphids, thrips, and other plant-sucking insects.
Aphids alone cause tens of millions of dollars of damage to crops worldwide every year; because of this, aphid-feeding hoverflies are being recognized as important natural enemies of pests, and potential agents for use in biological control. Some adult syrphid flies are important pollinators.
About 6,000 species in 200 genera have been described. Hoverflies are common throughout the world and can be found on every continent except Antarctica. Hoverflies are harmless to most other animals despite their mimicry of the black and yellow stripes of wasps, which serves to ward off predators.
食蚜蝇：双翅目环裂亚目食蚜蝇科的通称。全世界已知5000种，其中分布于新热带界的种类最多。中国已知300余种。
双翅目(Diptera) 食蚜蝇科(Syrphidae)昆虫，约4,000种。常在花中悬飞。有黄色斑纹，形似黄蜂或蜜蜂，但不螫人。与其他蝇的区别在于翅上有与第4纵脉平行的一条假脉。有的形小而细瘦(如Baccha属)，有的形大，似熊蜂，黄黑相间，多毛(如Criorhina属)。许多种的幼虫(如Syrphus americanus及Allograpta obligae)食蚜虫，在化蛹前一只幼虫要吸数百只蚜虫的体液。幼虫还在授粉上起重要作用。水仙球蝇(Merodon equestris或Lampetia equestris)和葱瘤食蚜蝇(Eumerus tuberculatus)在水仙洋葱等的鳞茎、球茎内钻孔为害。Microdon属的幼虫生活在蚁巢、白蚁巢内，Volucella属的幼虫生活於熊蜂巢中，其他属的幼虫生活於腐败的植被中。蜂蝇(Eristalis tenax)的幼虫(鼠尾蛆)生活在阴沟和污水中，後端有一条可伸缩的呼吸管。
Many of the of hoverflies have ornate body patterns, often of black and yellow, to mimic wasps and bees but are harmless. Hover fly mimicry include warning coloration of yellow and black, a narrow waist like a wasp and even the ability to mimic the stinging action of a wasp, by pushing the tip of the abdomen into your fingers if they are caught and held.
This little hoverfly was photographed feeding in the centre of a Canterbury Bell flower.
The smaller hoverflies are difficult to identify. I think that I have got this one correct as Platycheirus tarsalis, a small spotted species with a wing length of only 4.25 - 6mm that can be easily overlooked. Adults visit flowers but very rarely in great numbers. THe species is found throughout Britain although distribution can be somewhat scattered.
Hoverfly Eupeodes sp. egg laying on an aphid covered hibiscus seed pod. You can see the just laid egg
A hoverfly on a leaf
D300s - Nikon AF Nikkor 28-70mm 1:3.5-4.5 D with 50mm f1.7 reversed, manually focused and lit with homemade ringflash
Hoverfly Episyrphus balteatus on camelia bud. It was obviously on the shrub when In sprayed it with sugar/honey solution.
Hoverflies, sometimes called flower flies or syrphid flies, make up the insect family Syrphidae. As their common name suggests, they are often seen hovering or nectaring at flowers; the adults of many species feed mainly on nectar and pollen, while the larvae (maggots) eat a wide range of foods. In some species, the larvae are saprotrophs, eating decaying plant and animal matter in the soil or in ponds and streams. In other species, the larvae are insectivores and prey on aphids, thrips, and other plant-sucking insects.
Aphids alone cause tens of millions of dollars of damage to crops worldwide every year; because of this, aphidophagous hoverflies are being recognized as important natural enemies of pests, and potential agents for use in biological control. Some adult syrphid flies are important pollinators.
About 6,000 species in 200 genera have been described. Hoverflies are common throughout the world and can be found on all continents except Antarctica. Hoverflies are harmless to most other animals despite their mimicry of more dangerous wasps and bees, which serves to ward off predators.