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Syrphidae of New York State

Total of 245 species either found or highly expected to be found in New York.

Subfamily ERISTALINAE

Tribe Brachyopini

This tribe contains 8 genera and 31 or likely more species found in New York State

Genus Brachyopa

Genus Chrysogaster

Genus Chrysosyrphus

Genus Hammerschmidtia

Hammerschmidtia is a Holarctic Genus of hoverflies. The larvae are found in sap under the bark of downed trees. They appear quite unlike other syrphids, having drab colors and numerous bristles but on closer inspection they do have the general indicators of syrphids in a spurious vein.

Genus Myolepta

Three species of Myolepta occur in New York. Keys and descriptions of this species was made by Fluke and Weems in 1956. Larvae are described by Rotheray

Genus Neoascia

Neoascia <small>(Williston, 1886)</small> Fen Flies These are very small (3.5–5&nbsp;mm) black and yellow or metallic green flies with a narrow abdomen near the thorax. They occur mainly in damp places around plants. . Neoascia larvae have been recovered from wet manure in farmyards, and decaying vegetation at the edges of ponds. In 1925 Curran reviewed the Genus Neoascia

  • Neoascia metallica <small>(Williston, 1882 )</small> The Double-banded Fen Fly, is a common species.
  • Neoascia tenur <small>(Harris, 1780)</small> The Black-kneed Fen Fly is a common species that was formerly considered to be only European now considered to be throughout North America and Canada.
  • Neoascia globosa <small>(Walker, 1849)</small> The Black-margined Fen Fly is a fairly common species.

Genus Orthonevra

Four species Orthonevra <small>(Macquart, 1829)</small> of these small dark metallic flies are found in New York. Sedman divided this genus into two groups, the pictipennis group of which N.Y. has O. pictipennis, O. Weemsi and O. pulchella and the Bellula group with O. nitida being found in N.Y. This genus is one of the few where the eyes are ornamented with either horizontal medial lines or meandering lines across the eye. Keys and descriptions have been provided by Sedman.

  • Orthonevra nitida <small>(Wiedemann, 1830)</small> The Wavy mucksucker is a fairly common species.

Genus Sphegina

These are distinctive small flies with a thin elongate abdomen and enlarged hind femur often with spines and or teeth. The larvae are found under bark in water soaked areas. Rotheray has described European species and habitats as well as a key to larvae including sphegina and other syrphid genera. Keys to adult American species was provided by Coovert. New York species can also be found southward especially in the Appalachian Mountains and also north to the New England States.<br> There are various keys online, Covert 1977 Hull, 1935 and Malloch, 1922

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Tribe Callicerini

Genus Callicera

Only one species of this tribe is found in New york in the genus Callicera <small>(Panzer, 1809)</small>.

Tribe Cerioidini

Genus Ceriana

Ceriana<small>(Rafinesque, 1815)</small> has but one species in New York.

Genus Sphiximorpha

Sphiximorpha <small>(Rondani, 1850)</small> is represented by a single rare species in New York.

Tribe Eristalini

Subtribe Eristalina

Genus Eristalinus
Genus Eristalis

New York has an prevalence of Eristalids many of which are striking in color and exhibit mimicry to the bees. The larvae are of the rat-tailed type. Eristalis along with many sister species has the r<small>4+5</small> vein making a distinct loop towards the rear of the wing.

Species list
Genus Palpada

Subtribe Helophilina

Genus Eurimyia
Genus Helophilus
Genus Anasimyia
Genus Polydontomyia
Genus Mallota

Large flies that strongly resemble bumblebees. The larvae of, M. cimhiciformis (Fallen) and M. posticata (Fabricius) develop in detritus-containing rot pockets, usually wet tree holes in upright deciduous trees.

Genus Parhelophilus

Tribe Sericomyiini

This tribe has only one genus

Genus Sericomyia

Tribe Eumerini

Genus Eumerus

Genus Merodon

  • Merodon equestris <small>(Fabricius, 1794)</small> The Narcissus Bulb Fly is a fairly common species.

Tribe Milesiini

This tribe contains 17 genera with 56 species found in New York

Genus Blera

Genus Brachypalpus

Genus Chalcosyrphus

Genus Criorhina

Genus Cynorhinella

Cynorhinella <small>(Curran, 1922)</small> is a rare genus in New York with a single species.

Genus Hadromyia

Hadromyia <small>(Williston, 1882)</small> a single species in New York

Genus Lejota

Lejota (Róndani, 1857) has two uncommon species in New York.

  • Lejota aerea <small>(Loew 1872)</small> The Golden Trunksitter is an uncommon species
  • Lejota cyanea <small>(Smith 1912)</small> The Cobalt Trunksitter is an uncommon species.

Genus Milesia

Milesia <small>(Latreille, 1804)</small> represented by a single, vivid species.

Genus Pterallastes

Pterallastes <small>(Loew, 1863)</small>

Genus Somula

Somula <small>(Macquart, 1847)</small> has only two species worldwide, with one in New York.

  • Somula decora <small>(Macquart, 1847)</small> The Spotted Wood Fly is an uncommon species.

Genus Sphecomyia

Sphecomyia <small>Latreille, 1829</small> is a genus of wasp mimics with one species found in New York.

  • Sphecomyia vittata <small>(Wiedemann, 1830)</small> The Long-horned Yellowjacket is an uncommon species.

Genus Spilomyia

Many species in Spilomyia are wasp mimics with black and yellow patterns and using the black front legs to imitate the wasp antennae. The eyes on Spilomyia species are a distinctive characteristic which usually display vertical, and irregular stripes or blotches.

Genus Syritta

  • Syritta pipiens <small>(Linnaeus, 1758 )</small> The Common Compost Fly is a very common species.

Genus Temnostoma

Genus Teuchocnemis

Teuchocnemis <small>(Osten-Sacken, 1876)</small> species are more commonly found south of New York.

Genus Tropidia

Genus Xylota

Tribe Rhingiini

This tribe contains 5 genera and 8 species found in New York State

Genus Cheilosia

This is a very large genus of little black flies with larvae feeding on plants or fungi.

Species observed in New York
Species observed next to New York

Genus Ferdinandea

Ferdinandea <small>(Róndani, 1844)</small> has a single species in New York with a second species, Ferdinandea croesus, reported but the identity is not confirmed.

Genus Hiatomyia

  • Hiatomyia cyanescens <small>(Hunter, 1896)</small> no page The Azure Deltawing an uncommon species.

Genus Pelecocera

Pelecocera <small>(Meigen, 1822)</small> only reported from Long Island but may be more common as the small size and habit of staying in low lying flowers may make this fly under-reported.

Genus Rhingia

Rhingia<small>(Scopoli, 1763)</small> has only one species in North America.

  • Rhingia nasica <small>(Say, 1823)</small> The American Snout Fly is a common species.

Tribe Volucellini

Genus Copestylum

Copestylum <small>(Macquart, 1846)</small> due to the larval habit of living in Bromeliads only one species is found in New York.

Genus Volucella

Volucella <small>(Geoffroy, 1762)</small> has two species that represent some of the best bumblebee mimics in New York. The larvae of most species live in nests of bumblebees and social wasps, where they are detritivores and larval predators.

Subfamily PIPIZINAE

This is the newest subfamily and the smallest in New York. The adult fly looks very much like the flies in Eristalinae while the larvae are predators much like the subfamily Syrphinae. The DNA evidence has been evaluated and concluded that Pipizinae are a sister subfamily to these subfamilies.

Genus Heringia

Genus Pipiza

Pipiza <small>(Fallén, 1810)</small> is a genus of small nearly all black flies sometimes with yellow abdominal spots. The larvae, when known, feed upon gall making or leaf rolling aphids. Pipizini. The larvae of Pipiza species (fig. 257) seem to prefer aphids which secrete a waxy flocculence, e.g. woolly aphid (Eriosoma). Pipizella larvae confine their attention to subterranean aphids feeding on the roots of plants.

Genus Trichopsomyia

Trichopsomyia <small>(Williston, 1888)</small> is another genus of small black flies that may easily be overlooked. Pipizella larvae confine their attention to subterranean aphids feeding on the roots of plants.

Subfamily MICRODONTINAE

Genus Microdon

The nine New York species is a fraction of the 126 worldwide species. The Microdon larvae live in the nests of ants as scavengers or predators and unlike other syrphid larvae, have no apparent body segmentation.

Genus Mixogaster

Subfamily SYRPHINAE

The larvae of Syrphinae are predators of aphids and other plant feeding insects. The role in controlling populations if these occasionally destructive "plant lice' is of interest to science as a possible bological control agents. The adult flies are small to medium sized, many with black and yellow patterning. Many species have elongate bodies. The four tribes of the Syrphidae are well represented in New York with the Syrphini being the most divers and numerous of the tribes while Toxomerini contains the most numerous and widespread species Toxomerus marginatus found across new york for much of the summer.

Tribe Bacchini

Genus Baccha

Baccha <small>(Fabricius, 1805)</small> has only one species in New York that is easily overlooked because of its small size.

  • Baccha elongata (Cognata) <small>(Fabricius, 1775)</small> The Common Dainty Fly a common species.

Genus Melanostoma

<small>(Schiner, 1860)</small>

Genus Platycheirus

A very large genus, perhaps 220 species worldwide and 23 species possibly in New york. In New York state Platycheirus is divided into seven morphological groups based on the shape and ornamentation of the front tarsi and tibia and other characteristics. press "show" below to see table. Species can be difficult to identify, especially females. A key, description, maps, photographs has been published and contains keys to both male and female of the species where possible,

  • Species:

Tribe Chrysotoxini

Genus Chrysotoxum

Chrysotoxum <small>(Meigen, 1803)</small>

Tribe Paragini

Genus Paragus

Tribe Syrphini

Syrphini this tribe contains 15 genera and at least 38 species, though more are likely*, found in New York

Genus Allograpta

Allograpta <small>(Osten Sacken, 1875)</small>, once recognized is found to be a common species across the state along with Toxomerus.

  • Allograpta obliqua <small>(Say, 1823)</small> Say, T. 1823. Descriptions of dipterous insects of the United States. J. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philad. Oblique Streaktail

Genus Dasysyrphus

Dasysyrphus <small>(Enderlein, 1938)</small> have recently been reviewed.

Genus Didea

Didea <small>(Macquart, 1834)</small> has a single species in New York.

Genus Doros

Genus Epistrophe

Genus Epistrophella

Epistrophella emarginata <small>(Say, 1823)</small> Slender Smoothtail

Genus Eupeodes

Genus Lapposyrphus

Genus Leucozona

Leucozona <small>(Schiner, 1860)</small> with one distinct species in New York. Another species, Leucozona xylotoides, has been observed in states bordering the eastern border of New York.

Leucozona americana <small>(Curran, 1923)</small> American Whitebelt .

Genus Megasyrphus

Genus Melangyna

Melangyna <small>(Verrall, 1901)</small>

Genus Meligramma

The Meligramma <small>(Frey, 1946)</small> species in New York is also common in Europe

Genus Meliscaeva

Meliscaeva <small>(Frey, 1946)</small> our one species is also common in Europe.

Genus Ocyptamus

Genus Parasyrphus

Genus Philhelius

Genus Sphaerophoria

New York species all with bright yellow and black abdominal markings the thorax is dark with yellow scutellum. yellow markings along the sides and hemispherical male terminalia

Genus Syrphus

Tribe Toxomerini

Genus Toxomerus

References