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The hoverflies are one of the most abundant families in Diptera and an important category of resource insects. They can provide important ecosystem services such as pollination and beneficial biological control agents. In the four-subfamily classification system of the Syrphidae, the monophyly of the Eristalinae within Syrphidae has not been recovered. In this study, we performed new sequencing and analysis of low-coverage whole genomes for 25 species of Syrphidae. Phylogenetic reconstructions were conducted based on different datasets and analytical strategies. Across all our analyses, the monophyly of the Syrphinae is supported but we do not recover the monophyly of the Eristalinae, consistent with previous research findings. Additionally, employing fossil calibrations for divergence time estimation, our results indicate that the origin of the Syrphidae occurred between the Albian and Aptian stages, approximately between 120.5 and 109.3 million years ago, the origin of the subfamily Syrphinae was dated in the Early Eocene, about 50.8–47.8 million years ago, in accordance with the diversification of their prey. This study will help us understand the higher-level phylogenetic and evolutionary relationships within Syrphidae. Graphical Abstract [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An updated checklist of the hoverflies including distribution and seasonal occurence data of known species in Nepal is presented. The list is based on all available published literature on taxonomy, biodiversity, ecology, and biological aspects of the syrphid fauna of Nepal up to 2023. A total of 205 species from three subfamilies and 63 genera are known to occur in Nepal. Among the three subfamilies, Eristalinae shares maximum species (111 species, 54%), followed by Syrphinae (90 species, 44%), and Microdontinae (four species, 2%). is presented. Among these, 48 (23%) species are recorded in Nepal only. The distribution of known hoverfly species in the country is not uniform, with the Bagmati (82 species) and Koshi (75 species) provinces having the greatest number of species, while the Madhesh (four species) and Lumbini (one species) provinces having the lowest records. The highest number of species are recorded in May (51 species), followed by July (50 species) and June (48 species). Winter season records are relatively low, and distribution data are still incomplete for some sites. Based on the present review, comprehensive and systematic sampling across the entire country is necessary for further exploration of Nepal's hoverfly fauna.

An updated checklist of the hoverflies including distribution and seasonal occurence data of known species in Nepal is presented. The list is based on all available published literature on taxonomy, biodiversity, ecology, and biological aspects of the syrphid fauna of Nepal up to 2023. A total of 205 species from three subfamilies and 63 genera are known to occur in Nepal. Among the three subfamilies, Eristalinae shares maximum species (111 species, 54%), followed by Syrphinae (90 species, 44%), and Microdontinae (four species, 2%). is presented. Among these, 48 (23%) species are recorded in Nepal only. The distribution of known hoverfly species in the country is not uniform, with the Bagmati (82 species) and Koshi (75 species) provinces having the greatest number of species, while the Madhesh (four species) and Lumbini (one species) provinces having the lowest records. The highest number of species are recorded in May (51 species), followed by July (50 species) and June (48 species). Winter season records are relatively low, and distribution data are still incomplete for some sites. Based on the present review, comprehensive and systematic sampling across the entire country is necessary for further exploration of Nepal's hoverfly fauna. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Syrphid identification keys that cover all life cycle stages of the taxonomy are insufficient, and there are problems with the morphological identification of these flies. Cytochrome oxidase I (COI) is widely used for molecular identification and phylogenetic reconstruction. The study examined the effectiveness of COI in identifying 18 specimens containing 13 agriculturally important species of syrphids collected from different geo-climatic regions of West Bengal. Phylogenetic analysis was performed using Maximum Likelihood (ML) and Bayesian (BA) trees, which were almost congruent. Barcodes were generated for Dasysyrphus orsua and Eristalinus polychromata for the first time. This is the first study to use the COI for barcoding ecologically and agriculturally relevant syrphid flies from eastern India and their phylogeny. The findings contribute to the basic understanding of the diversity of syrphids across West Bengal and the molecular characterization of hoverflies, promoting their conservation and thus leading to the augmentation of crops. © 2024 Association for Advancement of Entomology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hover fly (Diptera: Syrphidae) genus Afroxanthandrus Kassebeer, 2000 is revised based on morphological and molecular characters. Two new species, Afroxanthandrus comorosensis sp. nov., and Afroxanthandrus conopeum sp. nov. are described, while Xanthandrus magnificus Thompson, 2019 is a new junior synonym of Afroxanthandrus congensis (Curran, 1938). We also redescribe A. congensis stat. rev. and A. longipilus stat. rev. and report additional distribution records for both species.

Hoverflies (Syrphidae) are essential pollinators, and their severe decline jeopardizes their invaluable contribution to plant diversity and agricultural production. However, we know little about the dispersal abilities of hoverflies in urbanized landscapes, limiting our understanding of the spatiotemporal dynamics of plant–pollinator systems and reducing our ability to preserve biodiversity in the context of global change. Previous work has not addressed how urbanization affects the functional connectivity of hoverflies and whether dispersal is a limiting factor in their population dynamics. In this study, we investigated the spatial genetic structure of two nonmigratory species of hoverflies in two urban areas. We collected more than a thousand specimens of each Syritta pipiens and Myathropa florea, each, by hand netting in two western European urbanized study areas of 490 and 460 km2 in 2021, and we genotyped them at 14 and 24 microsatellite loci, respectively. Based on spatial and nonspatial Bayesian clustering methods, we failed to reject the null hypothesis of panmixia, suggesting that both species exhibited high genetic connectivity despite urbanization. The distribution of allele frequencies was not correlated with geographic distance, implying that isolation‐by‐distance was negligible at the investigated spatial scale in both species. Although anthropogenic land cover changes generally have dramatic consequences on biodiversity, these hoverfly species retain high connectivity, which suggests that dispersal is not a strong limiting factor in their metapopulational dynamics. However, high effective population size and its confounding effect on signals of genetic drift may limit our ability to conclude confidently about landscape effects on gene flow in those two species. Provided we maintain or restore habitat, recolonization may be prompt even in urban areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A checklist of the hover flies from Kerala belonging to two subfamilies is provided. Among the 59 species listed, the subfamily Syrphinae shares maximum number of species (34), followed by the subfamily Eristalinae (25). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Hoverflies (Syrphidae) are essential pollinators, and their severe decline jeopardizes their invaluable contribution to plant diversity and agricultural production. However, we know little about the dispersal abilities of hoverflies in urbanized landscapes, limiting our understanding of the spatiotemporal dynamics of plant–pollinator systems and reducing our ability to preserve biodiversity in the context of global change. Previous work has not addressed how urbanization affects the functional connectivity of hoverflies and whether dispersal is a limiting factor in their population dynamics. In this study, we investigated the spatial genetic structure of two nonmigratory species of hoverflies in two urban areas. We collected more than a thousand specimens of each Syritta pipiens and Myathropa florea, each, by hand netting in two western European urbanized study areas of 490 and 460 km2 in 2021, and we genotyped them at 14 and 24 microsatellite loci, respectively. Based on spatial and nonspatial Bayesian clustering methods, we failed to reject the null hypothesis of panmixia, suggesting that both species exhibited high genetic connectivity despite urbanization. The distribution of allele frequencies was not correlated with geographic distance, implying that isolation‐by‐distance was negligible at the investigated spatial scale in both species. Although anthropogenic land cover changes generally have dramatic consequences on biodiversity, these hoverfly species retain high connectivity, which suggests that dispersal is not a strong limiting factor in their metapopulational dynamics. However, high effective population size and its confounding effect on signals of genetic drift may limit our ability to conclude confidently about landscape effects on gene flow in those two species. Provided we maintain or restore habitat, recolonization may be prompt even in urban areas.

While evidence of insect pollinator declines accumulates, little is known about the pollinator communities that are most vulnerable to population fluctuations and may require conservation actions. Among the main reasons for this lack of knowledge about the status and trends of native pollinators are the time, cost, and expertise required to collect and identify wild insect pollinators (bees, more specifically). Here, we discuss how leveraging the complementarity of community science and taxonomist expertise can help overcome these challenges and provide perspective and insights from launching the large‐scale monitoring program Abeilles citoyennes. The overall objective of this community science project is to monitor wild bee (Apoidea) and hover fly (Syrphidae) diversity in the province of Quebec, Canada, and study the effects of landscape composition on their communities. From 2019 to 2021, 131 volunteers collected insects at 161 sites across the province. A total of 13,558 bees and 2,486 hover flies were collected and identified to species. The project protocol and potential data uses are presented, along with a discussion of the benefits and challenges of using an expert‐assisted community science approach for pollinator monitoring and opportunities for improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Syrphid flies (Diptera, Syrphidae) play important ecological roles as pollinators, pest control agents, and decomposers. Communities are influenced by environmental variables such as land use. However, these interactions are poorly studied in urban landscapes. We used pan traps in community gardens, cemeteries, and parks in Montreal, Canada, to investigate syrphid fly communities in an urban landscape and describe how site surface area and heat island cover shape these communities. We estimated the species richness of communities and the occupancy patterns of three syrphid functional groups (insectivores, terrestrial saprophagous, and aquatic saprophagous). We captured 1,791 specimens from 48 species. Species richness increased with site surface area but did not vary with the level of urbanisation. The occupancy of the three groups did not change with site surface area. Syrphid flies of the terrestrial saprophagous group were less likely to occur on sites with high urbanisation, but the occupancy of insectivore and aquatic saprophagous groups did not vary with the variable. Implications for insect conservation Our results highlight that cities can harbour diversified syrphid fly communities and that certain functional groups are tolerant to urbanisation pressures. Our study suggests that conservation measures targeting syrphid flies in cities must be adapted to functional traits and larval requirements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract While evidence of insect pollinator declines accumulates, little is known about the pollinator communities that are most vulnerable to population fluctuations and may require conservation actions. Among the main reasons for this lack of knowledge about the status and trends of native pollinators are the time, cost, and expertise required to collect and identify wild insect pollinators (bees, more specifically). Here, we discuss how leveraging the complementarity of community science and taxonomist expertise can help overcome these challenges and provide perspective and insights from launching the large‐scale monitoring program Abeilles citoyennes. The overall objective of this community science project is to monitor wild bee (Apoidea) and hover fly (Syrphidae) diversity in the province of Quebec, Canada, and study the effects of landscape composition on their communities. From 2019 to 2021, 131 volunteers collected insects at 161 sites across the province. A total of 13,558 bees and 2,486 hover flies were collected and identified to species. The project protocol and potential data uses are presented, along with a discussion of the benefits and challenges of using an expert‐assisted community science approach for pollinator monitoring and opportunities for improvement.

Syrphid flies are important ecological indicators and provide crucial ecosystem services, being important pollinators and biological control agents of insect pests. These charismatic insects are conspicuous and, due to their size and colourful patterns, are relatively easy to identify. However, the lack of user-friendly literature (e.g. photographic guides) for most areas may hamper its wider selection as a study group in biodiversity and ecological studies. The syrphid fauna of Madeira Archipelago comprises 26 species, including four endemics (Eumerus hispidus Smit, Aguiar & Wakeham-Dawson, 2004; Melanostoma wollastoni Wakeham-Dawson, Aguiar, Smit, McCullough & Wyatt, 2004; Myathropa usta, Wollaston, 1858 and Xanthandrus babyssa, Walker, 1849), but, despite the current good taxonomic knowledge on this group, information on species distribution, ecology and conservation is still lacking. Here, we provide a pictorial key to the adult hoverflies of Madeira Archipelago highlighting diagnostic characteristics and present photographs of both males and females (in dorsal and lateral views) in colour plates. The key and plates will help researchers to differentiate these species, thus encouraging the use of this insect group in future bioindication studies. In addition, this study also aims to engage a broader audience of non-experts in improving the knowledge on the distribution and ecology of Madeira syrphids.We provide a checklist for the hoverflies of Madeira Archipelago and a pictorial key to help on species identification.

This study was carried out by visiting the designated areas at least twice between the months of April and October of each year between 2014 and 2016 to determine the phytophagous Syrphidae species in Antalya (Korkuteli), Afyonkarahisar (Dazkırı, Dinar), Burdur, Isparta (all districts), and Konya (Beyşehir) located within the borders of the Lakes Region. Adult syrphid individuals were collected from trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants using sweep-net and mouth aspirator from agricultural areas, uncultivated lands and forest areas rich in vegetation and flowering plants in 46 different sampling points. As a result of the study, a total of 48 phytophagous species belonging to the genera Cheilosia (7), Eumerus (13) and Merodon (28) were found. Merodon nigritarsis (17 %), Merodon aff. bessarabicus (8 %), Merodon spinitarsis (6,25 %), Eumerus bicornis (6,16 %), Merodon crassifemoris (6,16 %) Merodon italicus (5,5 %), Merodon avidus (5 %), Cheilosia soror (3.2 %) and Merodon alagoezicus (2,6 %) were determined as the most abundant and common species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The migration of hoverflies (Diptera: Syrphidae) is a well-known phenomenon, with growing interest due to the ecosystem services provided by migrants. However, we still lack fundamental data on species composition, timing of migration, or sex ratio of migrants. To address this gap, we focused on the southward autumnal migration of hoverflies through central Europe. Methods: To recognize migrating individuals from resident ones, we used a pair of one-side-blocked Malaise traps, exposed in a mountain pass in the Jeseníky mountains, Czech Republic, where a mass migration of hoverflies takes place annually. Traps were set for 4 years, from August to October. Results: In total, we recorded 31 species of migrating hoverflies. The timing of migration differed between the years, taking place from the beginning of September to the end of October. Differences in phenology were observed in the four most common migrant species, where larger species seemed to migrate earlier or at the same time compared to the smaller ones. The sex ratio was strongly asymmetrical in most common species Episyrphus balteatus, Eupeodes corollae, and Sphaerophoria scripta, and varied between years for each species. Weather conditions strongly influenced the migration intensity at ground-level: hoverflies migrate mainly during days with south wind, high temperature, high atmospheric pressure, and low precipitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main objective of this study was to inventory the abundance and species richness of wild bees and hoverflies in the Lac Saint-Pierre floodplain according to a land-use gradient. In 2019 and 2020, pollinators were sampled using pan-traps in three landscape types: Crop field margins, Perennial hayfields, and Natural habitats. Bee and hoverfly populations were dominated by a few species throughout the study area. Crop field margins contained greater floral availability and attracted more individuals and species of bees than other landscape types. Although hoverflies were not affected by either land-use type or flooding, the abundance and species richness of bees appeared to be reduced when spring flooding lasted longer, suggesting a mortality effect of flooding on their populations. Implications for insect conservation: Our results make a case for the key role of field margins in the conservation of pollinating insects in agricultural landscapes, especially in a floodplain context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The migration of hoverflies (Diptera: Syrphidae) is a well-known phenomenon, with growing interest due to the ecosystem services provided by migrants. However, we still lack fundamental data on species composition, timing of migration, or sex ratio of migrants. To address this gap, we focused on the southward autumnal migration of hoverflies through central Europe. Methods To recognize migrating individuals from resident ones, we used a pair of one-side-blocked Malaise traps, exposed in a mountain pass in the Jeseníky mountains, Czech Republic, where a mass migration of hoverflies takes place annually. Traps were set for 4 years, from August to October. Results In total, we recorded 31 species of migrating hoverflies. The timing of migration differed between the years, taking place from the beginning of September to the end of October. Differences in phenology were observed in the four most common migrant species, where larger species seemed to migrate earlier or at the same time compared to the smaller ones. The sex ratio was strongly asymmetrical in most common species Episyrphus balteatus, Eupeodes corollae, and Sphaerophoria scripta, and varied between years for each species. Weather conditions strongly influenced the migration intensity at ground-level: hoverflies migrate mainly during days with south wind, high temperature, high atmospheric pressure, and low precipitation.

Milesia cretica Bot & van Steenis sp. nov. is described from the Island of Crete, Greece. An identification key to all the European species of Milesia Latreille, 1804 is provided, together with DNA barcodes to distinguish the new species.

A survey study was conducted to find out the species of flower flies and aphids in the alfalfa field from Abu Ghraib region - Iraq for the season 2018-2019. The survey results were eight species from seven genera belonged to two subfamilies (Syrphinae and Eristalinae). Syrphinae included five species: Eupeodes corollae, Episyrphus balteatus, Syrphus baltitus, Ischiodon scutellaris and Sphaerophoria scripta, while Eristalinae included three species: Eristalis pertinax, Eristalinus aeneus and Eristalinus sepulchralis. The highest population density was for E.corollae, followed by E.balteatus then S.scripta, which reached 3.1, 1.6, and 1.1 adult/trap, respectively. Four species of aphids on the alfalfa plant were also recorded in this study, these are Therioaphis maculata, Aphis fabae, Aphis craccivora and Myzus persicae. The results of Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) showed the ability of primer ITS2-4 to diagnosis the species of flower flies E.corollae and E.balteatus. It was able to replicate the DNA segments with a molecular weight (450) bp, after it showed a percentage of 100% nucleotide matching with the genetic region located between the ribosomal RNA gene 5.8S and 28S ribosomal RNA. Moreover, the bank number MN648194 and MN648193 were recorded for Eupeodes corollae and Episyrphus balteatus respectively, for the first time in Iraq. Molecular diagnosis is matching with the morphological identify of the two species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We record Aristosyrphus carpenteri (Hull, 1945) for the first time from South America. This species was previously known from Panama and Costa Rica. New specimens, collected in Pichincha Province of Ecuador, represent the first reported occurrence of this flower fly genus from the country. Images, diagnosis, and DNA barcodes are provided to help with the identification of this species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Extensively managed and flower‐rich mountain hay meadows, hotspots of Europe's biodiversity, are subject to environmental and climatic gradients linked to altitude. While the shift of pollinators from bee‐ to fly‐dominated communities with increasing elevation across vegetation zones is well established, the effect of highland altitudinal gradients on the community structure of pollinators within a specific habitat is poorly understood. We assessed wild bee and hoverfly communities, and their pollination service to three plant species common in mountain hay meadows, in eighteen extensively managed yellow oat grasslands (Trisetum flavescens) with an altitudinal gradient spanning approx. 300 m. Species richness and abundance of pollinators increased with elevation, but no shift between hoverflies and wild bees (mainly bumblebees) occurred. Seedset of the woodland cranesbill (Geranium sylvaticum) increased with hoverfly abundance, and seedset of the marsh thistle (Cirsium palustre) increased with wild bee abundance. Black rampion (Phyteuma nigrum) showed no significant response. The assignment of specific pollinator communities, and their response to altitude in highlands, to different plant species underlines the importance of wild bees and hoverflies as pollinators in extensive grassland systems.

Three new species of Myolepta Newman, 1838 are described from Thailand (M. iota sp. nov.), Laos (M. diaphora sp. nov.) and Indonesia (M. geras sp. nov. from Java), and new records of Myolepta petiolata Thompson, 1971 from Thailand are also provided. Diagnoses, illustrations and known distributional data are given. In addition, the generic affinities and subdivision of Myolepta are discussed based on these newly described taxa.

ABSTRACT Flower flies of the genus Cepa are endemic to the Neotropical region and Cepa apeca is currently known only from Costa Rica. Here we report the first record of C. apeca in Colombia based on a single female collected using a canopy trap in a dense secondary forest in a mountainous ecosystem in the locality of Vereda San Francisco, municipality of Florencia-Caquetá, at an altitude of 643 m.a.s.l. This finding constitutes the first record of the genus Cepa in Colombia and expands the geographic range of Cepa apeca by approximately 1,500 km (straight line) southwards to South America. Our finding represents the southernmost occurrence of the species and contributes to the incipient knowledge on the Diptera diversity in the Colombian Andean-Amazonian region.

This study was carried out for the determination of distribution, abundance, and species richness of hoverflies in the Lakes Region of Turkey between the years 2014–2016. Samplings were done between April and October of each year. A total of 6595 specimens belonging to 113 species, divided into two subfamilies (Syrphinae and Eristalinae) and 39 genera were determined. Eumerus bicornis Grković, Vujić et Hayat, 2019; Merodon albidus Šašić Zorić, Ačanski et Vujić, 2020; Merodon chrysurus Hurkmans et Vujić, 2020; Merodon defectus Vujić, Likov et Radenković, 2020; Merodon longisetus Vujić, Radenković et Likov, 2020; Merodon obstipus Vujić, Radenković et Likov, 2020 were described as new species for science. Whereas the most abundant species were Sphaerophoria scripta (29.87%) and Syritta pipiens (17.76%), subdominant species were Eristalis tenax, Melanostoma mellinum, Eristalis arbustorum and Eupeodes corollae. The majority of species, 89 out of 113 were recognized as rare (relative contribution 10.72%). Species distribution maps, species richness, abundance, as well as Shannon–Wiener (H') index, species seasonal dynamic, and species sex ratio were calculated to indicate the diversity of Syrphidae species. To obtain present and for the period 2061–2080 species richness patterns and detect areas with the highest richness, we conducted a Species Distribution Modelling procedure. Considering current potential species richness, areas predicted to be most suitable for investigated hoverfly species (potentially having 29–37 species) were central-east and central-west parts of Isparta, as well as southern parts of Afyonkarahisar and northern parts of Burdur provinces. In the period of 2061–2080, it is predicted that the most suitable areas will shift from Isparta to the north and central parts of Burdur and to the western part of the Konya provinces. It is hoped that this study will stimulate further studies on the family Syrphidae in Turkey. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Syrphid flies are important ecological indicators and provide crucial ecosystem services, being important pollinators and biological control agents of insect pests. These charismatic insects are conspicuous and, due to their size and colourful patterns, are relatively easy to identify. However, the lack of user-friendly literature (e.g. photographic guides) for most areas may hamper its wider selection as a study group in biodiversity and ecological studies. The syrphid fauna of Madeira Archipelago comprises 26 species, including four endemics (Eumerus hispidus Smit, Aguiar & Wakeham-Dawson, 2004; Melanostoma wollastoni Wakeham-Dawson, Aguiar, Smit, McCullough & Wyatt, 2004; Myathropa usta, Wollaston, 1858 and Xanthandrus babyssa, Walker, 1849), but, despite the current good taxonomic knowledge on this group, information on species distribution, ecology and conservation is still lacking. Here, we provide a pictorial key to the adult hoverflies of Madeira Archipelago highlighting diagnostic characteristics and present photographs of both males and females (in dorsal and lateral views) in colour plates. The key and plates will help researchers to differentiate these species, thus encouraging the use of this insect group in future bioindication studies. In addition, this study also aims to engage a broader audience of non-experts in improving the knowledge on the distribution and ecology of Madeira syrphids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eristalinus aeneus (Scopoli) and Eristalis tenax (L.) (Diptera: Syrphidae, Eristalini) are important pollinator species that can be artificially reared and commercialised. To achieve better control over the pupal development time and adult emergence, cold storage techniques are suitable tools. Insects were reared under controlled conditions: 25 ± 1 °C, 50% r.h., and L12:D12 photoperiod. Pupae of both species were stored at 5 °C at the beginning (early treatments) or at the end (late treatments) of their development for various periods of time (5, 10, 15, 20, or 30 days). Development stopped completely at 5 °C in both treatments, but in general, pupae stored at the beginning of the pupal stage provided better results in terms of survival (adult emergence) and quality of the adults (general morphology). The cold tolerance of E. tenax was lower than that of E. aeneus, with their pupal developmental time successfully extended up to 18 and 23 days, respectively, without compromising survival and morphology. The number and types of morphological alterations due to cold storage were recorded. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Syrphid flies (Diptera: Syrphidae) are a cosmopolitan group of flower-visiting insects, though their diversity and importance as pollinators is understudied and often unappreciated. Data on 1,477 Syrphid occurrences and floral associations from three years of pollinator collection (2017-2019) in the Southern Illinois region of Illinois, United States, are here compiled and analyzed. We collected 69 species in 36 genera off of the flowers of 157 plant species. While a richness of 69 species is greater than most other families of flower-visiting insects in our region, a species accumulation curve and regional species pool estimators suggest that at least 33 species are yet uncollected. In order to further the understanding of Syrphidae as pollinators in the Southern Illinois region, we produced a NMDS ordination of floral associations for the most common syrphid species. The NMDS did not sort syrphid species into discrete ecological guilds, and syrphid floral associations generally fit those predicted by traditional pollination syndromes. We also conducted a preliminary analysis of the pollen-carrying capacity of different syrphid taxa, which found several Eristalis species to carry pollen loads comparable to the European Honey Bee, Apis mellifera, and showed significant differences in the pollen-carrying capacity of various syrphid species. Notably, the extremely common genus Toxomerus and other small Syrphinae species carried very little pollen, while large and pilose Eristalinae species carried large pollen loads.

Six additional species of hover flies of the subfamily Eristalinae are recorded from Ukraine for the first time: Criorhina pachymera Egger, 1858, Hammerschmidtia ferruginea (Fallén, 1817), Melanogaster parumplicata (Loew, 1840), Orthonevra erythrogona (Malm, 1863), Sphiximorpha garibaldii Rondani, 1860, and Temnostoma angustistriatum Krivosheina, 2002. Distributions of these species are summarized and species diagnoses are provided. Updated key to males of the European species of the genus Melanogaster including a little-known M. jaroslavensis (Stackelberg, 1922) is proposed.

The species Calaretropidia delmohardy Thompson, 2017 (Diptera: Syrphidae) is recorded from Sulawesi for the first time. The species was described based on a single male from Sentani, Papua Province, Indonesia. A short comment on this new record and habitus images are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extensively managed and flower‐rich mountain hay meadows, hotspots of Europe's biodiversity, are subject to environmental and climatic gradients linked to altitude. While the shift of pollinators from bee‐ to fly‐dominated communities with increasing elevation across vegetation zones is well established, the effect of highland altitudinal gradients on the community structure of pollinators within a specific habitat is poorly understood. We assessed wild bee and hoverfly communities, and their pollination service to three plant species common in mountain hay meadows, in eighteen extensively managed yellow oat grasslands (Trisetum flavescens) with an altitudinal gradient spanning approx. 300 m. Species richness and abundance of pollinators increased with elevation, but no shift between hoverflies and wild bees (mainly bumblebees) occurred. Seedset of the woodland cranesbill (Geranium sylvaticum) increased with hoverfly abundance, and seedset of the marsh thistle (Cirsium palustre) increased with wild bee abundance. Black rampion (Phyteuma nigrum) showed no significant response. The assignment of specific pollinator communities, and their response to altitude in highlands, to different plant species underlines the importance of wild bees and hoverflies as pollinators in extensive grassland systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Preimaginal morphology of Austroscaeva occidentalis (Shannon, 1927) is described for the first time, and the morphology of larvae and pupae of Dioprosopa clavata (Fabricius, 1794) is updated based on material obtained from captive rearing of wild females from Argentina and Venezuela, respectively. We describe the morphology of the third instar larva, head skeleton and puparium using optical microscopy, cryo‐scanning and scanning electron microscope. The immature stages of both New World flower fly species are analysed and compared with the known preimaginal morphology of other taxa that belong to the evolutionary lineage of Eupeodes‐Scaeva, where Austroscaeva Láska, Mazánek & Mengual, 2018, and Dioprosopa Hull, 1949, form a Neotropical radiation within, together with the genus Notosyrphus Vockeroth, 1969. Larvae of all members of this lineage have abdominal segments 5 and 6 with the tips of the locomotory prominences facing posteriorly, and the anal segment with a characteristic U‐shaped grasping organ. Two other larval synapomorphies of this group of genera are the presence of metathoracic setae accompanying ventral sensilla, and the abdominal segments 1–7 with an extra lobe on each locomotory prominence. These two last characters cannot be assessed for Macrosyrphus Matsumura, 1917, and Lapposyrphus Dušek & Láska, 1967, based on published information on larval descriptions. Despite a similar colouration pattern of the fully grown larvae, larval morphology of A. occidentalis and D. clavata are quite distinct. The preimaginal morphology of A. occidentalis has a mixture of morphological characters from the taxa Scaeva Fabricius, 1805, Semiscaeva Kuznetzov, 1985, and Dioprosopa. The larvae of D. clavata show several unique diagnostic features, such as the presence of a slightly serrate outline due to the great development of the segmental spines and a pinnate ornamentation of the setae of its dorsal and dorsolateral sensilla. Regarding their biological cycle, the length of the preadult stages of A. occidentalis is almost 5 days longer than the length observed for D. clavata. In addition, new DNA barcodes are provided for A. occidentalis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New records of flower flies (Diptera, Syrphidae) from Iran are reported. The species Criorhina talyshensis (Stackelberg) is reported for the first time from Iran, and a female of Caliprobola aurea Sack from Mazandaran Province represents the second record of the species from this country. DNA barcodes are provided for both species, together with images and an identification key to Caliprobola species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ten additional species of hover flies of the subfamilies Eristalinae and Syrphinae are recorded from Ukraine for the first time: Cheilosia bergenstammi Becker, 1894, C. fraterna (Meigen, 1830), C. nebulosa Verrall, 1871, C. pascuorum Becker, 1894, C. uviformis Becker, 1894, Pelecocera scaevoides (Fallén, 1817), Dasysyrphus pauxillus (Williston, 1887), Epistrophe cryptica Doczkal and Schmid, 1994, Melangyna quadrimaculata (Verrall, 1873), and Xanthogramma dives (Rondani, 1857). Distributions of these species are summarized and species diagnoses are provided. Updated key to Cheilosia males of the group D sensu Becker (1894), which have tibiae with pale parts, is provided.

The flower fly genus Afrosyrphus Curran, 1927 (Diptera, Syrphidae) is revised and a new species, Afrosyrphus schmuttereri sp. nov., from Kenya and Uganda is described. Diagnoses, illustrations, DNA barcodes and known distributional data are provided for the two species of this genus, as well as an identification key. A critical review of the published literature is also provided.

Phylogenetic relationships of the Sphaerophoria lineage (Sphaerophoria Le Peletier & Audinet-Serville and related genera) were inferred based on molecular characters, with the specific aim to infer the phylogenetic placement of the Afrotropical Sphaerophoria species and Loveridgeana beattiei van Doesburg & van Doesburg. Three molecular markers were used, i.e., the mitochondrial protein-coding gene cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) and the nuclear 28S and 18S ribosomal RNA genes. The Sphaerophoria lineage genera Exallandra Vockeroth and Loveridgeana were resolved within the genus Sphaerophoria, and the Indomalayan Eosphaerophoria Frey was placed sister to Citrogramma Vockeroth, both related to a large species radiation from the New World. Fazia Shannon and Allograpta Osten Sacken were recovered as non-monophyletic. Our results recovered two different Fazia clades with dissimilar natural history resulted from our analyses, and Allograpta species were resolved into two clades, one with Nearctic and Neotropical species and a second clade with species from Oceanian, Indomalayan and Afrotropical Regions. Exallandra is considered a subgenus of Sphaerophoria, S. (Exallandra) stat. rev., and Sphaerophoria cinctifacies (Speiser) n. comb. a member of this subgenus together with S. loewii Zetterstedt. A new Sphaerophoria subgenus is designated S. (Loveridgeana) stat. rev. to include S. beattiein. comb. and the South African species, i.e., S. quadrituberculata Bezzi, S. retrocurva Hull, and S. aff. retrocurva. Based on their phylogenetic distinctiveness, functional traits, and ecological relevance we do recommend further ecological study and protection efforts for this Afrotropical group of pollinators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eristalinus punctulatus (Macquart, 1847) is a hoverfly (Syrphidae) that is native to Australia. Eristalinus belongs within tribe Eristalini, which is well known for its pollination efficiency. Although there is not much information available about this species, the abundance and floral constancy of this group of flies make E. punctulatus an appropriate candidate for use as pollinating agent. However, like most other eristalines, there is a lack of information regarding basic aspects of its biological cycle, as well as the morphology of the preimaginal stages. In this paper, the morphology of the egg, the first and third larval instars and the puparium of E. punctulatus are described for the first time. A description of the head skeleton is also given to improve understanding of the larval feeding habits of this species. Additionally, a diagnostic key of the third larval instar is provided together with an update of the pupal stage key, including all the Eristalinus species whose preimaginal morphology has already been described. The most noteworthy morphological features of the larva of E. punctulatus are the presence of lappets, the proportions of the anterior spiracles and the number and size of the facets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Syrphid flies (Diptera: Syrphidae) are a cosmopolitan group of flower-visiting insects, though their diversity and importance as pollinators is understudied and often unappreciated. Data on 1,477 Syrphid occurrences and floral associations from three years of pollinator collection (2017-2019) in the Southern Illinois region of Illinois, United States, are here compiled and analyzed. We collected 69 species in 36 genera off of the flowers of 157 plant species. While a richness of 69 species is greater than most other families of flower-visiting insects in our region, a species accumulation curve and regional species pool estimators suggest that at least 33 species are yet uncollected. In order to further the understanding of Syrphidae as pollinators in the Southern Illinois region, we produced a NMDS ordination of floral associations for the most common syrphid species. The NMDS did not sort syrphid species into discrete ecological guilds, and syrphid floral associations generally fit those predicted by traditional pollination syndromes. We also conducted a preliminary analysis of the pollen-carrying capacity of different syrphid taxa, which found several Eristalis species to carry pollen loads comparable to the European Honey Bee, Apis mellifera, and showed significant differences in the pollen-carrying capacity of various syrphid species. Notably, the extremely common genus Toxomerus and other small Syrphinae species carried very little pollen, while large and pilose Eristalinae species carried large pollen loads. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With increasing worldwide pressure on bee pollinator populations and an increase in insecticide resistance amongst pest insects, there is a growing need for diversification of pollinator and pest control systems. Syrphid flies (Diptera: Syrphidae) contribute ecosystem services to agroecosystems through their supporting roles as crop pollinators and predators of pests. Adult syrphids are important pollinators with high floral visitation rates and pollen carrying capacity, while predatory syrphid larvae are natural biological control agents, reducing aphid populations in both field and laboratory conditions. The present challenge is to determine whether syrphid flies have the potential for application as pollinators and in integrated pest management schemes as biological control agents. Currently, there are gaps in research that are hindering the use of syrphids as dual service providers. Such gaps include a lack of knowledge of syrphid floral preferences, the role and viability of adult syrphids as pollinators in natural and agro‐ecological pollinator networks, and the predatory efficiency of larvae in field and glasshouse conditions. By reviewing relevant literature, we demonstrate syrphid flies have the potential to be used as pollinators and biological control agents. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Guettarda scabra leaves are consumed by a variety of moth caterpillars, some with adults that visit the flowers and may serve as pollinators. Flower-opening is hastened by eager flower-flies, and during the night the flowers are visited by hawk moths (Sphingidae); in the morning they are visited by butterflies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The morphological similarities between five new large Argentinomyia species and Talahua fervida Fluke are characterized and presented. Six new species of Argentinomyia (10-12 mm long) are described: Argentinomyia andina Montoya & Wolff, sp. nov. (Colombia), Argentinomyia choachi Montoya, sp. nov. (Colombia), Argentinomyia quimbaya Montoya & Wolff, sp. nov. (Colombia), Argentinomyia huitepecensis Montoya, sp. nov. (México), Argentinomyia puntarena Montoya, sp. nov. (Costa Rica), and Argentinomyia talamanca Thompson, sp. nov. (Costa Rica). The genus Talahua Fluke is re-diagnosed and, Talahua fervida redescribed. A taxonomic key and a comparison of diagnostic characters are presented. Photographs of head, abdominal and wing maculae patterns, as well as illustrations of male genitalia are provided for species identification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A checklist of the Syrphidae species of the Republic of Georgia is presented. New hover fly (Diptera: Syrphidae) records from Georgia are provided as a result of field work conducted in 2018. At the same time, published syrphid records for the country are here reviewed and updated. A total of 357 species of hoverflies are now documented from Georgia, 40 of which are reported for the first time. Moreover, DNA barcodes were sequenced for 238 specimens, representing 74 species from this country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rat-tailed larvae of the syrphid species Palpada scutellaris (Fabricius, 1805) are documented causing an enteric human myiasis in Costa Rica. This is the first time that the genus Palpada is recorded as a human myiasis agent. We report a 68-year-old woman with intestinal pain and bloody diarrhea with several live Palpada larvae present in the stool. Using molecular techniques (DNA barcodes) and both electronic and optical microscopy to study the external morphology, the preimaginal stages of the fly were unambiguously identified. An identification key to all syrphid genera actually known as agents of human and animal myiases is provided for larvae, puparia, and adults. Moreover, a critical world review of more than 100 references of Syrphidae as myiasis agents is also given, with emphasis on the species with rat-tailed larvae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species of Eumerus, Eumerus druk Smit sp. nov., is described from Bhutan. This species belongs to the bactrianus subgroup of the strigatus species group. Seven species are currently known within this subgroup: four European, one of which is also found in the Near East, and three more only known from Tajikistan. The new species extends this disjunct distribution to the east by at least 2,000 km, stretching far beyond the reported Turano-Mediterranean region and into the Himalayas. A diagnosis and a key to all Central and Eastern Palaearctic species of the Eumerus bactrianus subgroup are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background This paper describes 11 of 18 new species recognised in the recent book, "Field Guide to the Flower Flies of Northeastern North America". Four species are omitted as they need to be described in the context of a revision (three Cheilosia and a Palpada species) and three other species (one Neoascia and two Xylota) will be described by F. Christian Thompson in a planned publication. Six of the new species have been recognised for decades and were treated by J. Richard Vockeroth in unpublished notes or by Thompson in his unpublished but widely distributed "A conspectus of the flower flies (Diptera: Syrphidae) of the Nearctic Region". Five of the 11 species were discovered during the preparation of the Field Guide. Eight of the 11 have DNA barcodes available that support the morphology. New information New species treated in this paper include: Anasimyia diffusa Locke, Skevington and Vockeroth (Smooth-legged Swamp Fly), Anasimyia matutina Locke, Skevington and Vockeroth (Small-spotted Swamp Fly), Brachyopa caesariata Moran and Skevington (Plain-winged Sapeater), Brachyopa cummingi Moran and Skevington (Somber Sapeater), Hammerschmidtia sedmani Vockeroth, Moran and Skevington (Pale-bristled Logsitter), Microdon (Microdon) scauros Skevington and Locke (Big-footed Ant Fly), Mixogaster fattigi Locke, Skevington and Greene (Fattig's Ant Fly), Neoascia guttata Skevington and Moran (Spotted Fen Fly), Orthonevra feei Moran and Skevington (Fee's Mucksucker), Psilota klymkoi Locke, Young and Skevington (Black Haireye) and Trichopsomyia litoralis Vockeroth and Young (Coastal Psyllid-killer). Common names follow the "Field Guide to the Flower Flies of Northeastern North America" (Skevington et al. 2019). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As one of the most distinct groups in the hoverfly genus Merodon, the monophyletic ruficornis species group has been the focus of several studies using different approaches. Molecular methods have shown incongruences between morphological and molecular data. In the present study, we investigated four species of the Merodon ruficornis group (i.e. M. loewi, M. armipes, M. papillus and M. hoplitis) with the aim of detecting intra- and interspecific genetic diversity, and we examined the usefulness of random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) in an integrative taxonomic approach to species delimitation. Analysis of Nei’s genetic variation over all loci showed that genetic diversity for the analyzed Merodon species was h=0.24. Based on UPGMA, PCoA and Bayesian clustering analyses, our results clearly differentiated four groups that correspond to the four morphologically-defined Merodon species. Among the analyzed species, M. armipes and M. hoplitis showed the lowest level of genetic divergence; M. loewi was clearly separated from both M. armipes and M. papillus. Based on our data, we propose the use of RAPD-PCR as an additional tool for resolving taxonomic problems within Merodon. [Project of the Serbian Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development, Grant no.173002]

The mitochondrial genome of Melanostoma orientale has been decoded by Illumina sequencing. The mitogenomic size is 16,229 bp with 40.96% A, 40.29% T, 10.60% C, and 8.15% G. It is encoded with 13 protein-coding genes, 2 ribosomal RNA, and 22 transfer RNAs. The phylogenetic tree showed that 10 species of Syrphidae, belonging to six genera, were clustered into two clades. This is the first mitochondrial genome for the genus Melanostoma.