Editing Hoverfly (section)

{{short description|Family of insects}}
{{For|the helicopter|Sikorsky R-4}}
{{Automatic taxobox
| name = Syrphidae
| fossil_range = {{fossilrange|Eocene|present|earliest=Cenomanian}}
| image = Syrphidae_poster.jpg
| image_caption = Sixteen different species of hoverflies
| display_parents = 2
| taxon = Syrphidae
| authority = [[Pierre André Latreille|Latreille]], 1802
| subdivision_ranks = Subfamilies
| subdivision = *[[Eristalinae]]
* [[Microdontinae]]
* [[Pipizinae]]
* [[Syrphinae]]
}}

'''Hoverflies''', also called '''flower flies''' or '''syrphids''', make up the [[insect]] [[family (biology)|family]] '''Syrphidae'''. As their [[common name]] suggests, they are often seen [[Hover (behaviour)|hovering]] or nectaring at [[flower]]s; the adults of many [[species]] feed mainly on [[nectar]] and [[pollen]], while the [[larva]]e ([[maggot]]s) eat a wide range of foods. In some species, the larvae are [[saprotroph]]s, specifically [[detritivore]]s,<ref>{{cite journal |last=Rotheray |first=G.E. |year=1993 |title= Colour Guide to Hoverfly Larvae (Diptera, Syrphidae) in Britain and Europe |journal=Dipterists Digest |volume=9 |pages=155 |url= https://diptera.info/downloads/df_1_9_Colour_Guide_to%20Hoverfly_Larvae.pdf }}</ref> eating decaying plant and animal matter in the soil or in ponds and streams. In other species, the larvae are [[insectivore]]s, preying on [[aphid]]s, [[thrip]]s, and other plant-sucking insects.

Insects such as [[aphid]]s are considered [[crop]] [[pest (organism)|pests]], so the aphid-eating larvae of some hoverflies are economically and ecologically important. The larvae are potential agents for use in [[biological control]], while the adults are [[pollinator]]s.

About 6,000 species in 200 [[genus|genera]] have been described. Hoverflies are common throughout the world and can be found on all continents except [[Antarctica]]. Hoverflies are harmless to most [[mammal]]s, though many species are [[Batesian mimicry|mimics]] of stinging [[wasp]]s and [[bee]]s, a mimicry which may serve to ward off predators.

Hoverfly hovering behavior is unlike that of [[hummingbirds]] since they do not feed in midair. Hovering in general may be a means of finding a food source. Male hovering is often a territorial display while seeking females,<ref name="Scopus">{{cite journal |last1=Collett |first1=T.S. |last2=Land |first2=M.F. |date=September 1978 |journal=Journal of Comparative Physiology |title=How hoverflies compute interception courses |url=https://www.scopus.com/record/display.uri?eid=2-s2.0-0001324077&origin=inward&txGid=ad71bb12cbc836c7415c848ba45e1ee5 |pages=191–204 |volume=125 |issue=3 |doi=10.1007/BF00656597 |publisher=Springer-Verlag |url-access=subscription }}</ref>
while female hovering serves to inspect [[ovipositing]] sites.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Almohamad |first1=Raki |last2=Verheggen |first2=François J. |last3=HaubrugeUniv |first3=Éric |date=2009 |journal=Biotechnologie, Agronomie, Société et Environnement |title=Searching and oviposition behavior of aphidophagous hoverflies (Diptera: Syrphidae): a review |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/26849775 |pages=467–481 |volume=13 |issue=3 }}</ref><ref name="ucanr">{{cite web |url=https://ucanr.edu/sites/tuolumne_county_master_gardeners/files/147388.pdf |title=Hover Flies, a Gardener's Friend |author=Vera Strader |publisher=University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources }}</ref><ref name="Bugguide">{{cite web |url=https://bugguide.net/node/view/2317562 |title=''Allograpta exotica'' ovipositing - ''Allograpta exotica'' - Female |author=Peter Chen |date=December 6, 2023 |publisher=Iowa State University |website=Bugguide }}</ref>
<gallery caption="Adult hoverflies often hover over the plants they visit" mode=packed heights=160px>|
Eupeodes_fumipennis-female_hovering.jpg|''[[Eupeodes fumipennis]]''
Eupeodes_volucris-female_hovering.jpg|''[[Eupeodes volucris]]''
Helophilus_fasciatus-female_hovering.jpg|''[[Helophilus fasciatus]]''
Syritta_pipiens-male_hovering.jpg|''[[Syritta pipiens]]''
</gallery>

[[File:Syrphidae - kanagawa japan - 2023 11 9.ogv|thumb|A hoverfly on flowers in [[Japan]]]]