Eristalinae (or Milesiinae) are one of the four subfamilies of the fly

family Family (from ) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). It forms the basis for social order. Ideally, families offer predictabili ...

Syrphidae, or hoverflies. A well-known species included in this subfamily is the common drone fly, ''Eristalis tenax''. Species in this subfamily are often misclassified as bees instead of flies due to their exceptional

mimicry In evolutionary biology, mimicry is an evolved resemblance between an organism and another object, often an organism of another species. Mimicry may evolve between different species, or between individuals of the same species. In the simples ...

, especially to resemble Honeybees (family

Apidae Apidae is the largest family within the superfamily Apoidea, containing at least 5700 species of bees. The family includes some of the most commonly seen bees, including bumblebees and honey bees, but also includes stingless bees (also used for ...

). The best strategy for proper identification is to look at their eyes and wings and compare with fly morphology, to determine membership of family Syrphidae or of order

Hymenoptera Hymenoptera is a large order of insects, comprising the sawflies, wasps, bees, and ants. Over 150,000 living species of Hymenoptera have been described, in addition to over 2,000 extinct ones. Many of the species are parasitic. Females typi ...

Taxonomy

This subfamily consists of the following tribes: *

Brachyopini The Brachyopini (or Chrysogastrini) is a tribe of hoverflies. Unlike many members of this family these flies are generally darker and less colourful though some genera contain species with an attractive metallic lustre e.g. '' Chrysogaster''. Som ...

Callicerini ''Callicerini'', or ''Calliceratini'', is a tribe of hoverflies 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), hov ...

Cerioidini Cerioidini is a widespread tribe of around 222 species of hoverfly. ''Cerioidini'' are mistaken for wasps for which they are effective mimic In evolutionary biology, mimicry is an evolved resemblance between an organism and another object ...

Eristalini Eristalini is a tribe (biology), tribe of hoverfly, hoverflies. Several species are well-known honeybee Mimicry, mimics, such as the drone fly ''Eristalis tenax'', while other genera such as ''Helophilus'' and ''Parhelophilus'' exhibit wasp-like ...

Sericomyiini ''Sericomyiini'' is a tribe (biology), tribe of hoverflies consisting mainly of large ''bumblebee'' or ''wasp'' mimics. As with Eristalini the larvae have a telescopic breathing tube which allows them to breathe while submerged in boggy areas. T ...

Eumerini The Eumerini is a tribe (biology), tribe of hoverflies. The breeding habits of this group varies: larvae of the genera ''Merodon'' and ''Eumerus'' tunnel into plant bulbs while larvae of ''Psilota'' have been found in sap runs. List of genera ...

Milesiini The Milesiini (or Xylotini) is a large and diverse tribe (biology), tribe of hoverfly, hoverflies. They mimic wasps or hornets. List of genera *''Aneriophora'' Stuardo & Cortes, 1952 *''Blera (fly), Blera'' Gustaf Johan Billberg, Billberg, 1 ...

Rhingiini The Rhingiini (or Cheilosiini) is a tribe of hoverflies. List of genera *'' Chamaesyrphus'' Mik, 1895 *'' Cheilosia'' Meigen, 1822 *'' Endoiasimyia'' Bigot, 1882 *'' Ferdinandea'' Rondani, 1844 *'' Hiatomyia'' Shannon, 1922 *'' Ischyropter ...

Volucellini The Volucellini is a tribe of hoverflies. List of genera *''Copestylum'' Macquart, 1846 *'' Graptomyza'' Wiedemann, 1820 *'' Ornidia'' Lepeletier & Serville, 1828 *''Volucella ''Volucella'' is a genus of large, broad-bodied, dramatic hov ...

Gallery

Brachyopa daeckei.jpg, '' Brachyopa daeckei'' actual size Sphiximorpha subsessilis, Parc de Woluwé, Brussels (34851582946).jpg, ''Sphiximorpha subsessilis'' Namaste! (8089480678).jpg, ''Palpada sp.'' Syrphid - Sericomyia chalcopyga, E.C. Manning Provincial Park, British Columbia.jpg, ''Sericomyia chalcopyga'' Merodon equestris01.jpg, ''

Merodon equestris ''Merodon equestris'' (Narcissus bulb fly, greater bulb fly, large bulb fly, large Narcissus fly) is a Holarctic species of hoverfly (Family Syrphidae). Like many other hoverflies it displays a colouration pattern similar to a stinging insect ...

'' actual size Syritta pipiens 04.JPG, ''

Syritta pipiens ''Syritta pipiens'', sometimes called the thick-legged hoverfly, is one of the most common species in the insect family Syrphidae. This fly originates from Europe and is currently distributed across Palearctic, Eurasia and North America. They ar ...

'' actual size Rhingia campestris (15167417079).jpg, ''

Rhingia campestris ''Rhingia campestris'' is a species of hoverfly, long, with a wingspan of . It is common across the Palearctic from March until November. It has a broad orange abdomen with a black line along the sides (the black line is absent along the sides o ...

'' actual size Volucelle bourdon (Volucella bombylans) ♀, Parc de Woluwé, Bruxelles (49890612661).jpg, ''Volucelle bourdon'' actual size

Ecology

This subfamily has the widest range of larvae habitat of any in Syrphidae. Larvae live in sap trails, under bark, in rot-holes in trees, in decaying organic material such as dung and

compost Compost is a mixture of ingredients used as plant fertilizer and to improve soil's physical, chemical, and biological properties. It is commonly prepared by Decomposition, decomposing plant and food waste, recycling organic materials, and man ...

, and in shallow aquatic environments. Most larvae feed on decaying organic debris. They are filter feeders in many kinds of aquatic media. They purify water by filtering microorganisms and other products. Some feed on bulbs and are considered garden pests. Certain species in Eristalinae live as scavengers and take shelter in the remains of other insects, while others, like

Volucella ''Volucella'' is a genus of large, broad-bodied, dramatic hover-fly, hover-flies. They have distinctive Wiktionary:plumose, plumose Arista (biology), aristae and the face is extended downward. They are strongly Insect migration, migratory and mal ...

, are

parasitoid In evolutionary ecology, a parasitoid is an organism that lives in close association with its host (biology), host at the host's expense, eventually resulting in the death of the host. Parasitoidism is one of six major evolutionarily stable str ...

s and live in wasp or bee nests. Some other species are found to be leaf miners and tunnel inside the stems and roots of plants. Additionally, males of this subfamily typically employ dual mate-seeking strategies to find females, most commonly patrolling blossoms and waiting near potential sites where females could lay eggs.

References

3

Bugguide.net 4

Maier, C.T. (1982). ''Larval habitats and mate-seeking sites of flower flies (Diptera: Syrphidae, Eristalinae)''. Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington, 84, 603–609. 5. Maier, C.T. (1979). ''Dual Mate-Seeking Strategies in Male Syrphid Flies.'' Annals of the Entomological Society of America, Volume 72, Issue 1, Pages 54–61.

External links

* * Eristalinae, {{Eristalinae-stub