Editing Hoverfly

{{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]]]]

==Description==
The size of hoverflies varies depending on the species.<ref name="Britannica">{{cite encyclopedia|url=https://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/273341/hover-fly|title=hoverfly |encyclopedia=[[Encyclopædia Britannica]] Online |year=2009 |access-date=December 5, 2009}}</ref> For example ''[[Paragus tibialis]]''<ref name="Stubbs">{{cite book |last1=Stubbs |first1=Alan E. |last2=Falk |first2=Steven J |title=British Hoverflies: An Illustrated Identification Guide |edition=2nd |year=1983 |publisher=[[British Entomological and Natural History Society]] |location=London |isbn=1-899935-03-7 |pages=253, xvpp }}</ref><ref name="atlas">{{cite book |last1=Ball |first1=S.G. |last2=Morris |first2=R.K.A. |title=Provisional atlas of British hoverflies (Diptera, Syrphidae) |year=2000 |publisher=Biological Record Centre |location=[[Monks Wood, UK]] |isbn=1-870393-54-6 |pages=167 pages<!-- ? needs actual page number? -->}}</ref><ref name="VanVeen">{{cite book |last= Van Veen |first= M.P. |title=Hoverflies of Northwest Europe, Identification Keys to the Syrphidae |type= Hardback |year=2004 |publisher=KNNV Publishing |location=Utrecht |isbn=90-5011-199-8 |page=254 }}</ref> is {{convert|3-5|mm|in|frac=64|abbr=on}} long, while ''[[Criorhina nigriventris]]'' is {{convert|13.6-20.6|mm|in|frac=32|abbr=on}} long.<ref name=skev>{{cite book |last=Skevington |first=Jeffrey H. |date=2019 |title= Field Guide to the Flower Flies of Northeastern North America |url= |location= |publisher= |page=  |isbn= 9780691189406 }}</ref> Some, such as members of the genus ''[[Baccha]]'', are small, elongated, and slender, while others, such as members of ''[[Criorhina]]'', are large, hairy, and yellow and black. As members of the [[Diptera]], all hoverflies have a single functional pair of wings, with the hind wings reduced to [[Halteres|balancing organs]].<ref name="Hutchinson">{{cite encyclopedia |url=http://encyclopedia.farlex.com/Hover+Fly|title=Hoverfly|access-date=December 6, 2009 |encyclopedia=Hutchinson Encyclopedia |publisher=Helicon Publishing |year=2009}}</ref> Many species are brightly colored, with spots, stripes, and bands of yellow or brown covering their bodies.<ref name="Hutchinson" /> Due to this coloration, they are often mistaken both by insect-eating birds and by humans for [[wasps]] or [[bee]]s; they exhibit [[Batesian mimicry]]. Despite this, hoverflies are harmless to humans.<ref name="Britannica" /> Drone flies, ''[[Eristalis tenax]],'' are an example of a species of hoverfly who exhibit Batesian mimicry.<ref name="p815">{{cite journal | last=Heal | first=Jonathan | title=Colour patterns of syrphidae: | journal=Heredity | publisher=Springer Science and Business Media LLC | volume=42 | issue=2 | year=1979 | issn=0018-067X | doi=10.1038/hdy.1979.24 | pages=223–236}}</ref>

With a few exceptions,<ref name="Reemer08">{{cite journal |last=Reemer |first=Menno |year=2008 |title=''Surimyia'', a new genus of Microdontinae, with notes on ''Paragodon'' Thompson, 1969 (Diptera, Syrphidae) |journal=[[Zoologische Mededelingen]] |volume=82 |pages=177–188 |url=http://www.repository.naturalis.nl/record/261778 |format=[[Portable Document Format|PDF]]}}</ref> Hoverflies are distinguished from other flies by having a [[wikt:spurious|spurious]] vein, located parallel to their fourth longitudinal wing vein.<ref name="Britannica" /> Adults feed mainly on [[nectar]] and [[pollen]].<ref name="Hutchinson" /> Many species also hover around flowers, lending to their common name.<ref name="Britannica" />

Bee flies of the family [[Bombyliidae]] often mimic <!-- roar --> Hymenoptera and hover around flowers, as well, rendering some bombyliid species hard to tell apart from Syrphidae at first glance. Hoverflies can, nevertheless, be distinguished in the field by anatomical features such as:{{citation needed|date=December 2023}}
* The legs and mouthparts of hoverflies are usually not particularly long and thin (some bombyliids have a long and needle-like proboscis, many have legs that are noticeably longer and thinner than in similar-sized syrphids)
* Their facial cuticle often has prominent bulges and/or beak- to knob-like projections (most bee flies have an evenly curved or sloping face).
* The wings are often clear or have smooth gradients of tinting, and their veins merge posteriorly into a "false edge" that runs parallel to the wing's true rear edge and extends along half or more of the wing length (bombyliid wings lack a "false rear edge" and often have large dark areas with sharp boundaries, or complex patterns of spots).
* Their abdomens and thoraces often have glossy cuticular body surfaces, abdominal colors are usually mainly due to cuticular pigments (bee flies are usually very hairy, their abdominal colors are almost always due to pigmentation of hairs and not the underlying cuticle).
[[File:ハナアブ.jpg|thumb|Their wariness of people is surprisingly low, and their behaviour  can be observed up close.]]

== Reproduction and life cycle ==

[[File:Hoverflies mating midair.jpg|thumb|right|Midair mating of ''[[Simosyrphus grandicornis]]'']]

Unlike adults, the [[maggot]]s of hoverflies feed on a variety of foods. Some are [[saprotrophs]], eating decaying plant or animal matter, while others are [[insectivores]], eating [[aphids]], [[thrip]]s, and other plant-sucking insects.<ref name="Britannica" /><ref name="Schmidt">{{cite journal |last1=Schmidt |first1=Martin |last2=Thewes |first2=Ulrich |last3=Thies |first3=Carsten |last4=Tscharntke |first4=Teja |title=Aphid suppression in mulched cereals |journal=Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata |date=2004 |volume=113 |issue=2 |pages=87–93 |doi=10.1111/j.0013-8703.2004.00205.x |s2cid=85070615 }}</ref> Predatory species are beneficial to farmers and gardeners, because aphids destroy crops, and hoverfly maggots are often used in [[biological control]].  That includes one of the most common widespread hoverfly species, ''[[Episyrphus balteatus]]'', the larvae of which feed on aphids.{{cn|date=February 2025}}

[[File:Hoverfly depositing egg.jpg|thumb|right|Hoverfly depositing egg on ''[[Epipactis helleborine]]'' which has ants farming aphids]]

An example of a well-known hoverfly maggot is the [[rat-tailed maggot]] of the [[drone fly]], ''[[Eristalis tenax]]''. It has a breathing siphon at its rear end, giving it its name.<ref name="Britannica" /> The species lives in stagnant water, such as sewage and lagoons.<ref name="Maggots">{{cite journal |vauthors=Aguilera A, Cid A, Regueiro BJ, Prieto JM, Noya M |title=Intestinal myiasis caused by ''Eristalis tenax'' |journal=[[Journal of Clinical Microbiology]] |volume=37 |issue=9 |pages=3082 |date=September 1999 |doi=10.1128/JCM.37.9.3082-3082.1999 |pmid=10475752 |pmc=85471 }}</ref> The maggots also have a commercial use, and are sometimes sold for [[ice fishing]].<ref name="Ice fishing maggots">[http://www.briancoad.com/Dictionary/M.htm Dictionary of Ichthyology; Brian W. Coad and Don E. McAllister] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091206035232/http://www.briancoad.com/Dictionary/M.htm |date=2009-12-06 }} at ww.briancoad.com</ref>

[[File:Parasitoid wasp oviposits inside hoverfly larva.jpg|thumb|right|[[Ichneumonidae|An ichneumonid wasp]] [[Ovipositor|ovipositing]] inside a hoverfly larva]]

Very rarely, hoverfly larvae have caused [[Myiasis#Accidental myiasis|accidental myiasis]] in humans. That occurs when the larvae are accidentally ingested from contaminated food.<ref name="Maggots" /><ref>{{cite journal |author=Whish-Wilson PB |title=A possible case of intestinal myiasis due to ''Eristalis tenax'' |journal=[[The Medical Journal of Australia]] |volume=173 |issue=11–12 |pages=652 |year=2000 |pmid=11379520 |url=http://www.mja.com.au/public/issues/173_11_041200/whishwilson/whishwilson.html|doi=10.5694/j.1326-5377.2000.tb139374.x |s2cid=12898612 |url-access=subscription }}</ref>

== Evolution ==
The oldest known fossils of [[crown group]] [[Syrphidae]] are from the [[Eocene]] aged [[Florissant Formation]], [[Green River Formation]] and [[Baltic amber]]. The genus ''[[Prosyrphus]]'', found in [[Late Cretaceous]] ([[Cenomanian]]) [[Burmese amber]], appears to represent a [[Stem-group|stem group]] to the family.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Grimaldi|first=David A.|date=2018-10-24|title=Basal Cyclorrhapha in amber from the Cretaceous and Tertiary (Insecta: Diptera), and their relationships: Brachycera in Cretaceous amber Part IX|journal=Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History|volume=423|issue=423|pages=1–97|doi=10.1206/0003-0090-423.1.1|s2cid=91679754|issn=0003-0090|url=https://zenodo.org/record/4613008}}</ref>

== Distribution and habitat ==
Hoverflies are a [[cosmopolitan distribution|cosmopolitan]] family found in most [[biome]]s, except extreme deserts, [[tundra]] at extremely high latitudes, and [[Antarctica]].<ref name="Iziko">{{cite web |url=http://www.biodiversityexplorer.org/flies/syrphidae/index.htm |title=Syrphidae (hoverflies) |access-date=December 11, 2009|last=Barkemeyer|first=Werner|location=South Africa |publisher=[[Iziko South African Museum|Iziko Museum]] |work=Biodiversity Explorer |archive-date=September 23, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923190349/http://www.biodiversityexplorer.org/flies/syrphidae/index.htm |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sel.barc.usda.gov/diptera/syrphid/syrphid.htm |title=Flower Flies |access-date=December 11, 2009 |publisher=[[United States Department of Agriculture]]|work=The Diptera Site |last=Thompson |first=F. Christian|date=August 19, 1999|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091211155805/http://www.sel.barc.usda.gov/Diptera/syrphid/syrphid.htm|archive-date=December 11, 2009}}</ref> Certain species are more common in certain areas than others; for example, the [[American hoverfly]], ''Eupeodes americanus'', is common in the [[Nearctic realm]], and the [[common hoverfly]], ''Melangyna viridiceps'', is common in the [[Australasian realm]]. About 6,000 species and 200 genera are in the family.<ref>{{cite book |editor1=Gary Mullen |editor2=Gary Richard Mullen |editor3=Lance Durden |year=2009 |title=Medical and Veterinary Entomology |edition=2nd |publisher=[[Academic Press]] |isbn=978-0-12-372500-4 |chapter=Myiasis (Muscoidea, Oestroidea) |author1=Philip J. Scholl |author2=E. Paul Catts |author3=Gary R. Mullen |pages=309–338 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6R1v9o-uaI4C&pg=PA309}}</ref>

While some hoverfly larvae are aquatic and are often found in stagnant water, those of species that prey upon [[aphids]] and other plant parasites are usually terrestrial, residing on leaves.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bumblebee.org/invertebrates/DipteraHoverflies.htm|title=Syrphidae, hoverflies|author=Laura Smith|work=bumblebee.org}}</ref> Adults are often found near flowers, their principal food source being nectar and pollen.<ref name="Hutchinson" /> Some species are [[inquiline]]s; for instance, members of the genus ''[[Volucella]]'' can be found in bumblebee nests, while members of ''[[Microdon]]'' are [[myrmecophile]]s, found in ant or termite nests.<ref name="Britannica" /> Others can be found in decomposing vegetation.{{cn|date=February 2025}}

==Pollination==

[[File:Hoverfly October 2007-21.jpg|thumb|''Episyrphus balteatus'' on a daisy]]

[[File:ComputerHotline - Syrphidae sp. (by) (3).jpg|thumb|''Eupeodes corollae'']]

Hoverflies are important [[pollinators]] of flowering plants in many ecosystems worldwide.<ref name="Larson 2001 439–465">{{cite journal|last1=Larson|first1=B.M.H. |last2=Kevan |first2=P.G. |last3=Inouye|first3=D. W.|title=Flies and flowers: taxonomic diversity of anthophiles and pollinators.|journal=Canadian Entomologist |year=2001 |volume=133 |issue=4 |pages=439–465 |doi=10.4039/ent133439-4 |s2cid=55767580 }}</ref> Syrphid flies are frequent flower visitors to a wide range of wild plants, as well as agricultural crops, and are often considered the second-most important group of pollinators after wild [[bees]]. Relatively little research into fly pollinators has been conducted, compared to bees.<ref name="Larson 2001 439–465" /> Bees are thought to be able to carry a greater volume of pollen on their bodies, but flies may be able to compensate for this by making a greater number of flower visits.{{cn|date=February 2025}}

Like many pollinator groups, syrphid flies range from species that take a [[generalist and specialist species|generalist]] approach to foraging by visiting a wide range of plant species through those that specialize in a narrow range of plants.<ref>{{Cite journal |doi=10.1111/plb.12328 |pmid=25754608 |title=Competition for pollinators and intra-communal spectral dissimilarity of flowers |journal=Plant Biology |volume=18 |issue=1 |pages=56–62 |year=2015 |last1=Van Der Kooi |first1=C. J. |last2=Pen |first2=I. |last3=Staal |first3=M. |last4=Stavenga |first4=D. G. |last5=Elzenga |first5=J. T. M. |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/273158762}}</ref> Although hoverflies are often considered mainly nonselective pollinators, some hoverflies species are highly selective and carry pollen from one plant species.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Haslett |first=J.R. |title=Interpreting patterns of resource utilization: randomness and selectivity in pollen feeding by adult hoverflies |journal=Oecologia |year=1989 |volume=78 |issue=4 |pages=433–442 |doi=10.1007/bf00378732 |pmid=28312171 |bibcode=1989Oecol..78..433H |s2cid=9178645}}</ref> ''Cheilosia albitarsis'' is thought to only visit ''Ranunculus repens''.{{cn|date=February 2025}}

Specific flower preferences differ among species, but syrphid fly species have repeatedly been shown to prefer white- and yellow-coloured flowers.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Sajjad|first1=Asif|last2=Saeed|first2=Shafqat|title=Floral host plant range of syrphid flies (Syrphidae: Diptera) under natural conditions in southern punjab, Pakistan.|journal=Pakistan Journal of Biology|year=2010|volume=42 |issue=2|pages=1187–1200}}</ref> Nonvisual flower cues such as olfactory cues also help these flies to find flowers, especially those that are not yellow.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Primante|first1=Clara|last2=Dotterl|first2=Stefan|title=A syrphid fly uses olfactory cues to find a non-yellow flower.|journal=Journal of Chemical Ecology|year=2010|volume=36 |issue=11|pages=1207–1210|doi=10.1007/s10886-010-9871-6|pmid=20924654|s2cid=23245484}}</ref> Many syrphid fly species have short, unspecialized mouth parts and tend to feed on flowers that are more open as the nectar and pollen can be easily accessed.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Campbell|first1=Alistair, J. |last2=Biesmeijer |first2=J. C. |last3=Varma |first3=V. |last4=Wakers |first4=F. L. |title=Realising multiple ecosystem services based on the response of three beneficial insect groups to floral traits and trait diversity |journal=Basic and Applied Ecology |year=2012 |volume=13 |issue=4 |pages=363–370 |doi=10.1016/j.baae.2012.04.003}}</ref>

Also, a number of interactions occur between orchids and hoverflies. The orchid species ''[[Epipactis veratrifolia]]'' mimics alarm [[pheromone]]s of aphids which attracts pollinating hoverflies.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Stokl|first=Johannes|author2=Brodmann|author3=Dafni|author4=Ayasse|author5=Hansson|title=Smells like aphids: orchid flowers mimic aphid alarm pheromones to attract hoverflies for pollination.|journal=Proc. R. Soc. B|year=2011|volume=278|issue=1709 |pages=1216–1222|doi=10.1098/rspb.2010.1770 |pmid=20943694 |pmc=3049078}}</ref> Another plant, the [[slipper orchid]] in southwest China, also achieves pollination by deceit by exploiting the innate yellow color preference of syrphids.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Shi|first1=J.|last2=Luo |first2=Y.B.|last3=Ran|first3=J.C.|last4=Liu|first4=Z.J.|last5=Zhou |first5=Q.|title=Pollination by deceit in Paphiopedilum barbigerum (Orchidaceae): a staminode exploits innate colour preferences of hoverflies (Syrphidae).|journal=Plant Biology|year=2009|volume=11|issue=1 |pages=17–28|doi=10.1111/j.1438-8677.2008.00120.x |pmid=19121110}}</ref>

==Systematics==

{{Main|Genera of Syrphidae}}

==Relationship with humans==

[[File:Hoverfly in rain by prasan shrestha.jpg|thumb|Hoverfly nectaring on a small flower bud covered with dew drops.]]

Adult syrphid flies are pollinators.{{cn|date=February 2025}}

Larvae of many hoverfly species prey upon pest insects, including [[aphid]]s and [[leafhopper]]s, which spread some diseases such as [[curly top]], so they are seen in [[biocontrol]] as a natural means of reducing levels of pests. Gardeners, therefore, sometimes use [[companion plant]]s to attract hoverflies. Those reputed to do so include ''[[Alyssum]]'' spp., ''[[Iberis umbellata]]'', [[statice]], [[buckwheat]], [[chamomile]], [[parsley]], and [[yarrow]].<ref>Ben-Issa, R., Gomez, L., & Gautier, H. (2017). Companion Plants for Aphid Pest Management. Insects, 8(4), 112. https://doi.org/10.3390/insects8040112</ref> Many syrphids, such as ''[[Toxomerus marginatus]]'', are attracted to [[Plant defense against herbivory#Indirect defenses|herbivore-induced plant volatiles]], and there are commercial formulations of said volatiles, like [[methyl salicylate]], which can be used to attract them for biocontrol purposes.<ref>Rodriguez-Saona, C., Kaplan, I., Braasch, J., Chinnasamy, D., & Williams, L. (2011). Field responses of predaceous arthropods to methyl salicylate: A meta-analysis and case study in cranberries. Biological Control, 59(2), 394-303. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocontrol.2011.06.017</ref> Larvae in the subfamily [[Eristalinae]] live in semi-aquatic and aquatic environments, including manure and compost, and can filter and purify water.{{cn|date=February 2025}}

{{Interlanguage link|Fredrik Sjöberg|lt=Fredrik Sjöberg's|sv|Fredrik Sjöberg (författare)}} book ''The Fly Trap'' concerns his enthusiasm for hoverflies on the island of [[Runmarö]] in the [[Baltic Sea]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Sjöberg |first1=Fredrik |title=The Fly Trap|date=2014 |publisher=Particular Books |isbn=978-1-84614-776-0 |page=197}}</ref> The island is a hotspot for hoverflies and other insects; Sjöberg has collected 58 species of butterflies there, and (in seven years of hunting) 202 species of hoverflies, including 180 in his garden.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Barkham|first1=Patrick|title=Fredrik Sjöberg: 'I realised I had to write my book for people not interested in flies'|url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/jun/14/fredrik-sjoberg-hoverflies-the-fly-trap|newspaper=The Guardian|access-date=15 March 2015|date=14 June 2014}}</ref>

==Identification guides==
* Skevington, J.H., et al., 2019. Field Guide to the Flower Flies of Northeastern North America. Princeton University Press {{ISBN|9780691189406}}. This book "covers all 413 known syrphid species that occur in or north of Virginia, Kentucky, and Missouri, west to include Iowa, Minnesota, Ontario, and Nunavut, and east to the Atlantic Ocean, including Greenland."
* Stubbs, A.E. and Falk, S.J. (2002) ''British Hoverflies An Illustrated Identification Guide''. Pub. 1983 with 469 pages, 12 col plates, b/w illus. British Entomological and Natural History Society {{ISBN|1-899935-05-3}}. 276 species are described with extensive keys to aid identification. It displays 190 species on colour plates. 2nd edition, pub. 2002, includes new British species and name changes. It includes European species likely to appear in Britain. Additional black and white plates illustrate the male genitalia of the difficult genera ''Cheilosia'' and ''Sphaerophoria''.
* van Veen, M.P. (2004) ''Hoverflies of Northwest Europe: Identification Keys to the Syrphidae''. KNNV Publishing, Utrecht {{ISBN|9050111998}}.
* Miranda G.F.G., Young A.D., Locke M.M., Marshall S.A., Skevington J.H., Thompson F.C. (2013) Key to the Genera of Nearctic Syrphidae. {{doi|10.3752/cjai.2013.23}}
* Bot, S. and Van de Meutter, F. (2023) ''Hoverflies of Britain and North-west Europe: A photographic guide (Bloomsbury Naturalist)''. {{ISBN|978-1-3994-0245-3}}.

==Regional lists==
* [[List of hoverfly species of Great Britain]]
* [[List of the Syrphidae of Ireland]]
* [[List of flower flies of New Zealand]]
* [[List of the flower flies of North America]]
* [[Syrphidae of New York State]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://big.chez.com/pierrenicolaslibert/Doc8.htm#Biblio Hoverfly – index to scholarly articles]
* [http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/mag/artmay07/cd-hoverflies.html All About Hoverflies]
* [http://www.tuin-thijs.com/zweefvliegen-engels.htm A website about Dutch hoverflies]
* [http://hoverfly.uk/hrs/ Hoverfly Recording Scheme] – UK Dipterists Forum
* [http://www.syrphidae.com/ world Syrphidae checklist, including relationship with other taxa.]
* [http://www.diptera.info/photogallery.php?album_id=49 Diptera.info Picture Gallery]


===Species lists===
* [http://www.nearctica.com/nomina/main.htm Nearctic] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210224224425/http://www.nearctica.com/nomina/main.htm |date=2021-02-24 }} at nearctica.com
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20051015234856/http://www.faunaeur.org/full_results.php?id=10962 West Palaearctic including Russia] at faunaeur.org
* [http://hbs.bishopmuseum.org/aocat/syrphidae.html Australasian/Oceanian] at bishopmuseum.org
* [[List of the flower flies of North America]]
* [[List of hoverfly species of Great Britain]]
* [[Syrphidae of New York State]]
* [[List of flower flies of New Zealand]]

{{Diptera|2}}

{{Taxonbar|from=Q217905}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Hoverflies|*]]
[[Category:Brachycera families]]
[[Category:Taxa named by Pierre André Latreille]]