• Overview and Timeline for Project
• Contributors
• General Information on Syrphidae
• Species Pages
• Keys to identification

Overview

This project started as a small Ontario based guide following the successful field guide format of the late Ian Carmichael and his former collaborators (Photo Field Guide to the Dragonflies and Damselflies of Southwestern Ontario, Photo Field Guide to the Butterflies of Southern Ontario, and Photo Field Guide to Some Caterpillars of Southern Ontario). It has been expanded to include all of the species of Syrphidae from Northeastern North America (403 species). This web site contains samples from the original Ontario guide. We will put up some sample pages from the North America guide at some point this year. The guide is planned to be submitted to NRC Press in April 2009. After review and revision we hope that it will be available by spring 2010.

This work is dedicated to the late Ian Carmichael in recognition of his work on Ontario natural field guides. Ian was involved in the conception of this project.

Contributors

Authors
Jeff Skevington
F. Christian Thompson
Steve Marshall
Bill Crins
J. Richard Vockeroth

Other Contributors
Photographs: Robin McLeod, Jay Barnes, Lisa Bartels, Henri Goulet, Paul Pratt, Alf Rider, Jason Dombroskie

General Information on Syrphidae

Syrphidae (also known as flower flies or hover flies) are a diverse and important group of Diptera. One huge subfamily, the Syrphinae, are predominantly predators of aphids. As such, they are important natural regulators of aphid populations (many of them pests). The Eristalinae are an extremely varied group in terms of life histories. Some feed on dead and decaying organic matter (most Milesiini), some feed on dung (some Rhingiini and Milesiini), some eat fungi (some Rhingiini), some eat plants (most Rhingiini, Merodontini, some Brachyopini), some are predators (Pipizini), some are aquatic filter feeders (mainly Eristalini and some Brachyopini and Milesiini), and some are remarkably specialized inquilines in social insect nests (some Volucellini and Merodontini). Members of the only other subfamily, the Microdontinae, are all inquilines in the nests of social insects (mostly ants). Because of their diversity of feeding strategies as larvae and mimicry of wasps and bees that is common throughout adults in the family, this group is becoming a focus of many evolutionary ecology studies. Their conspicuous nature (many feed on flowers in gardens) has also made these flies a subject of attention of many interested amateur entomologists. The field guide and this web site will hopefully help fill the need for a simple and reliable identification tool for the family.

This page last updated on 23-Feb-2008

CNC Web pages development: Dr. J.H. Skevington