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Syrphidae |
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The Syrphidae, commonly known as flower flies, flowerflies, hover flies, and hoverflies, are a family of flies (Diptera). As one of their names suggests, they typically gather around flowers; the adults feed mainly on nectar and pollen, while the larvae (maggots[?]) eat a wide range of foods. In some species, the larvae are saprophytes[?], eating decaying plant and animal matter in the soil or in ponds and streams. In other species, the larvae are carnivores 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, and so aphid-feeding hoverflies are being recognised as important natural enemies, and potential agents for use in biological control[?]. Some syrphids mimic bees or wasps in appearance, in some cases bearing an alarming resemblance, both in shape and coloration. It is thought that this mimicry[?] protects hoverflies against falling prey to birds and other insectivores which avoid eating true wasps because of their sting. About 6,000 species in 200 genera have been described.
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