syrphes

Syrphes is the French plural noun for hoverflies, insects in the family Syrphidae (order Diptera). In English, the group is commonly called hoverflies or flower flies, and many species resemble bees or wasps as a form of mimicry. The family Syrphidae comprises about 6,000 described species worldwide.

Hoverflies are small to medium-sized, typically 5–20 mm in length. They often display bright black and yellow patterns and sometimes metallic or orange markings. The wings show typical dipteran venation, and many species can hover or perform rapid aerial maneuvers. In many species, males are holoptic (eyes touching at the top of the head) while females are dichoptic (eyes separated).

Adults feed mainly on nectar and pollen and are important pollinators in many ecosystems. They are commonly observed visiting flowers from spring to autumn. Their life cycles are closely tied to floral resources.

Larval ecology is diverse. Subfamily Syrphinae larvae are usually predatory, preying on aphids and other small arthropods, providing natural pest control. Subfamily Eristalinae larvae are often saprophagous or detritivores, and some aquatic forms—such as rat-tailed maggots of genus Eristalis—live in wet habitats. Other larvae feed on plant matter or reside in damp soils.

Systematics: Syrphidae is divided into several subfamilies and numerous genera, including Syrphus, Episyrphus, Helophilus, Eupeodes, and Eristalis. The group is globally distributed, with the greatest diversity in temperate regions and a significant ecological role as pollinators and, in many lineages, as natural enemies of pest insects.