Pipizini is a

tribe The term tribe is used in many different contexts to refer to a category of human social group. The predominant worldwide usage of the term in English language, English is in the discipline of anthropology. This definition is contested, in p ...

of small to medium-sized generally black

hoverflies Hover flies, also called flower flies or syrphid flies, make up the insect family Syrphidae. As their common name suggests, they are often seen hovering or nectaring at flowers; the adults of many species feed mainly on nectar and pollen, whi ...

, although some species also have orange spots on their abdomen. This nondescript colouring can lead to some species being confused with other dark hoverflies from other tribes. The lack of a facial knob is a good defining feature which separates them from most of these other hoverflies. As with other species in the subfamily

Syrphinae The Syrphinae constitute one of the three subfamilies of the fly family Syrphidae. Most larvae of this subfamily feed on aphids. It is a monophyletic group with more than 1,600 species. Gallery File:Melanostoma sp. (scalare^) Female. - Flick ...

the larvae feed on

aphid Aphids are small sap-sucking insects and members of the superfamily Aphidoidea. Common names include greenfly and blackfly, although individuals within a species can vary widely in color. The group includes the fluffy white woolly aphids. A t ...

s though there seems to be a preference for wax-secreting aphids e.g.

Pemphigidae Woolly aphids (subfamily: Eriosomatinae) are sap-sucking insects that produce a filamentous waxy white covering which resembles cotton or wool. The adults are winged and move to new locations where they lay egg masses. The nymphs often form l ...

List of genera

*''

Heringia ''Heringia'' is a genus of hoverflies, from the family Syrphidae, in the order Diptera. Species *'' H. adpropinquans'' (Becker, 1908) *'' H. albipleura'' ( Curran, 1921) *'' H. auripleura'' ( Curran, 1921) *'' H. brevidens'' (Egger, 1865) *'' H. ...

'' Rondani, 1856 *''

Pipiza ''Pipiza'' is a genus Hoverflies, from the family Syrphidae, in the order Diptera. Most are dark hoverflies. Biology Larvae are feeders on gall forming aphid Aphids are small sap-sucking insects and members of the superfamily Aphidoidea. C ...

'' Fallén, 1810 *''

Pipizella ''Pipizella'' is a genus Hoverfly, Hoverflies, from the family Syrphidae, in the order Diptera. Species *''Pipizella altaica, P. altaica'' Violovitsh, 1981 *''Pipizella annulata, P. annulata'' Pierre-Justin-Marie Macquart, Macquart, 1829 *''Pipi ...

'' Rondani, 1856 *''

Trichopsomyia ''Trichopsomyia'' is a genus of Hoverflies, from the family Syrphidae (flower flies), in the order Diptera. Biology Hover flies like the Trichopsomyia are small flies with large heads and eyes, and small antennae. Their bodies are medium to slen ...

'' Williston, 1888 *''

Triglyphus ''Triglyphus'' is a genus of hoverflies Hover flies, also called flower flies or syrphid flies, make up the insect family Syrphidae. As their common name suggests, they are often seen hovering or nectaring at flowers; the adults of many speci ...

'' Loew, 1840

References

Diptera of Europe Pipizinae Brachycera tribes {{Syrphidae-stub