Main Family
The superfamily is primarily composed of:
- Syrphidae – Brightly colored flies, often mimetic, capable of hovering and frequently found on flowers.
Habitat
Syrphoidea are found in a wide variety of environments:
- Flower-rich meadows
- Hedges, forest edges, and open woodlands
- Gardens, parks, and urban areas
- Wetlands (especially for aquatic larvae)
Biology
- Adults: floricolous, effective pollinators.
- Larvae:
- Predatory (mainly on aphids)
- Saprophagous (in litter, compost, tree cavities)
- Aquatic (some species with a breathing siphon)
Their ecological and morphological diversity makes them a key group for biodiversity studies and ecosystem service research.
A naturalistic illustration of a typical hoverfly will be added later.