Syrphidae of New York State

• Chrysogaster antitheus(Walker, 1849)^[1]The Short-haired Wrinklehead is a fairly common species.

• Chrysosyrphus latus( (Loew, 1863)The Variable Wrinklehead is a rare species

Hammerschmidtia is a Holarctic Genus of hoverflies. The larvae are found in sap under the bark of downed trees.^[2] They appear quite unlike other syrphids, having drab colors and numerous bristles but on closer inspection they do have the general indicators of syrphids in a spurious vein.^[3]

• Hammerschmidtia rufa, The Black-bristled Logsitter is an uncommon species.
• Hammerschmidtia sedmaniPale-bristled Logsitter is a rare species in N.Y.

Three species of Myolepta occur in New York.^[3] Keys and descriptions of this species was made by Fluke and Weems in 1956.^[4] Larvae are described by Rotheray ^[5]

• Myolepta strigilata
• M. nigra
• M. varipes

Neoascia(Williston, 1886)^[6] Fen Flies These are very small (3.5–5 mm) black and yellow or metallic green flies with a narrow abdomen near the thorax. They occur mainly in damp places around plants. . Neoascia larvae have been recovered from wet manure in farmyards, and decaying vegetation at the edges of ponds.^[7] In 1925 Curran reviewed the Genus Neoascia^[8]

• Neoascia metallica(Williston, 1882 )^[9]The Double-banded Fen Fly, is a common species.
• Neoascia tenur(Harris, 1780)^[10]The Black-kneed Fen Fly is a common species that was formerly considered to be only European now considered to be throughout North America and Canada.^[11]
• Neoascia globosa(Walker, 1849)^[1]The Black-margined Fen Fly is a fairly common species.

Four species Orthonevra(Macquart, 1829) of these small dark metallic flies are found in New York. Sedman divided this genus into two groups, the pictipennis group ^[12] of which N.Y. has O. pictipennis, O. Weemsi and O. pulchella and the Bellula group ^[13] with O. nitida being found in N.Y. This genus is one of the few where the eyes are ornamented with either horizontal medial lines or meandering lines across the eye. Keys and descriptions have been provided by Sedman.^[12][13]

• Orthonevra nitida(Wiedemann, 1830)^[14]The Wavy mucksucker is a fairly common species.

• Orthonevra pictipennis(Loew, 1863)^[15]Dusky-veined Mucksucker is an uncommon species.
• Orthonevra pulchella(Williston, 1887)^[6]The Dusky Mucksucker is a fairly common species.
• Orthonevra weemsi(Sedman, 1966)^[12]Weems' Mucksucker is a rare species.

These are distinctive small flies with a thin elongate abdomen and enlarged hind femur often with spines and or teeth. The larvae are found under bark in water soaked areas. Rotheray^[7] has described European species and habitats as well as a key to larvae including sphegina and other syrphid genera. Keys to adult American species was provided by Coovert.^[16] New York species can also be found southward especially in the Appalachian Mountains and also north to the New England States. There are various keys online, Covert 1977^[16] Hull, 1935 ^[17] and Malloch, 1922 ^[18]

:{|class="wikitable"

|-! name !! authority !! common name!!prevalence |+ Sphegina(Meigen, 1822) |- |Sphegina brachygaster || Hull, 1935^[17] || Thick-waisted Pufftail || fairly common |- | Sphegina campanulata || Robertson, 1901^[19] ||Orange-horned Pufftail || fairly common |- |Sphegina flavimana || John Russell Malloch, 1922 ^[18] || Tuberculate Pufftail || fairly common |- |Sphegina flavomaculata|| John Russell Malloch, 1922 ^[18] || Tooth-legged Pufftail|| uncommon |- |Sphegina keeniana|| Williston, 1887 ^[6] || Peg-legged pufftail || fairly common |- |Sphegina lobata || Loew, 1863 ^[15] ||Yellow-lobed Pufftail || uncommon |- |Sphegina lobulifera || John Russell Malloch, 1922 ^[18] || Black-lobed Pufftail || uncommon |- |Sphegina petiolata|| Coquillett, 1910^[20] || Long-spined Pufftail || uncommon |- |Sphegina rufiventris|| Loew, 1910 ^[15] || Black-horned pufftail || common |- |}

Only one species of this tribe is found in New york in the genus Callicera (Panzer, 1809).

• Callicera erratica(Walker, 1849)^[1]The Golden Pine Fly is a rare species.

Ceriana(Rafinesque, 1815) has but one species in New York.

• Ceriana abbreviata(Loew, 1864)^[21]The Northern Wasp Fly

Sphiximorpha(Rondani, 1850) is represented by a single rare species in New York.

• Sphiximorpha willistoni(Kahl, 1897)^[22]Williston's Wasp Fly is a rare species.

• Sericomyia chrysotoxoides(Macquart 1842)^[29]The Oblique-banded Pond Fly is a common species.
• Sericomyia lata(Coquillett 1907)^[30]The White-spotted Pond Fly is a common species.
• Sericomyia militaria(Walker, 1849)^[1]The Narrow-banded Pond Fly is a common species.
• Sericomyia transversa(Osburn, 1926)^[31]The Yellow-spotted Pond Fly is an uncommon species.

• Eumerus funeralis(Meigen, 1822)^[32]Lesser Bulb Fly is a fairly common species.
• Eumerus strigatus(Fallén, 1817)^[27]Onion Bulb Fly is a fairly common species.

• Merodon equestris(Fabricius, 1794)^[33]The Narcissus Bulb Fly is a fairly common species.

• Brachypalpus oarus(Walker, 1849)^[1]The Eastern Catkin Fly is a fairly common species.

• Criorhina verbosa(Walker, 1849)^[1]The Hairy-cheeked Bumble Fly is an uncommon species.
• Criorhina nigriventris(Walton, 1911)^[34]The Bare-cheeked Bumble Fly is an uncommon species.

Cynorhinella(Curran, 1922) is a rare genus in New York with a single species.

• Cynorhinella longinasus(Shannon, 1924)^[35]The Eastern Longnose Fly is a rare species.

Hadromyia(Williston, 1882) a single species in New York

• Hadromyia aepalius(Walker, 1849)^[1]Sterling Quicksilver Fly is a rare species.

Lejota (Róndani, 1857) has two uncommon species in New York.

• Lejota aerea(Loew 1872)^[36]The Golden Trunksitter is an uncommon species
• Lejota cyanea(Smith 1912)^[37]The Cobalt Trunksitter is an uncommon species.

Milesia (Latreille, 1804) represented by a single, vivid species.

• Milesia virginiensis(Drury, 1773)The Virginia Giant is an uncommon species.

Pterallastes(Loew, 1863)

• Pterallastes thoracicus(Loew 1863)^[15]The Goldenback Fly is an uncommon species.

Somula(Macquart, 1847) has only two species worldwide, with one in New York.

• Somula decora(Macquart, 1847)^[38]The Spotted Wood Fly is an uncommon species.

SphecomyiaLatreille, 1829 is a genus of wasp mimics with one species found in New York.

• Sphecomyia vittata(Wiedemann, 1830)^[14]The Long-horned Yellowjacket is an uncommon species.

Many species in Spilomyia are wasp mimics with black and yellow patterns and using the black front legs to imitate the wasp antennae. ^[39] The eyes on Spilomyia species are a distinctive characteristic which usually display vertical, and irregular stripes or blotches.^[40]

• Spilomyia alcimus(Walker 1849)^[1]Broad-banded Hornet Fly is an uncommon species.
• Spilomyia fusca(Loew 1864)^[21]Bald-faced Hornet Fly is a fairly common species.
• Spilomyia longicornis(Loew 1872)^[36]Eastern Hornet Fly is an uncommon species
• Spilomyia sayi(Goot, 1964)Four-lined Hornet Fly is a fairly common species.

• Syritta pipiens(Linnaeus, 1758 )The Common Compost Fly is a very common species.

Teuchocnemis(Osten-Sacken, 1876) species are more commonly found south of New York.

• Teuchocnemis bacuntius(Walker, 1849)^[1]The Orange Spur Fly is a rare species.
• Teuchocnemis lituratus(Loew, 1863)^[15]The Black Spur Fly is an uncommon species.

• Tropidia albistylum(Macquart, 1847)^[38]The Yellow-thighed Thickleg Fly is a rare species
• Tropidia calcarata(Williston, 1887)^[6]The Lily-loving Thickleg Fly is a rare species.
• Tropidia quadrata(Say, 1824)^[41]The Common Thickleg Fly is a common species.

This is a very large genus of little black flies with larvae feeding on plants or fungi.

Species observed in New York

• Cheilosia latrans
• Cheilosia orilliaensis
• Cheilosia pallipes
• Cheilosia prima

Species observed next to New York

• Cheilosia albitarsis
• Cheilosia caltha
• Cheilosia capillata
• Cheilosia rita
• Cheilosia shannoni

Ferdinandea(Róndani, 1844) has a single species in New York with a second species, Ferdinandea croesus, reported but the identity is not confirmed.^[11]

• Ferdinandea buccata(Loew, 1863)^[15]The Common Copperback a fairly common species.

• Hiatomyia cyanescens(Hunter, 1896) no page The Azure Deltawing an uncommon species.

Pelecocera(Meigen, 1822)^[32] only reported from Long Island but may be more common as the small size and habit of staying in low lying flowers may make this fly under-reported.

• Pelecocera pergandei.(Williston, 1884)The Eastern Bighorn Fly is a very rare species.

Rhingia(Scopoli, 1763) has only one species in North America.

• Rhingia nasica(Say, 1823)The American Snout Fly is a common species.

Copestylum(Macquart, 1846) due to the larval habit of living in Bromeliads only one species is found in New York.

• Copestylum vittatum Tropical Plushback The Striped Bromeliad Fly is an uncommon species.

Volucella(Geoffroy, 1762) has two species that represent some of the best bumblebee mimics in New York. The larvae of most species live in nests of bumblebees and social wasps, where they are detritivores and larval predators.^[42]

• Volucella evecta (Walker, 1852) The Eastern Swiftwing is an uncommon species.
• Volucella facialis(Linnaeus, 1758)The Yellow-faced Swiftwing is a fairly common species.

Baccha(Fabricius, 1805)^[28] has only one species in New York that is easily overlooked because of its small size.

• Baccha elongata (Cognata) (Fabricius, 1775)The Common Dainty Fly a common species.

(Schiner, 1860)

• Melanostoma mellinum(Linnaeus, 1758)The Variable Duskyface is an abundant species.

A very large genus, perhaps 220 species worldwide and 23 species possibly in New york. In New York state Platycheirus is divided into seven morphological groups based on the shape and ornamentation of the front tarsi and tibia and other characteristics. press "show" below to see table. Species can be difficult to identify, especially females. A key, description, maps, photographs ^[49] has been published and contains keys to both male and female of the species where possible,

• Species:

Chrysotoxum(Meigen, 1803)

• Chrysotoxum flavifrons, Macquart, 1842 ^[29] The Blackshield Meadow Fly
• Chrysotoxum laterale, Loew, 1864 ^[21]
• Chrysotoxum pubescens, Loew, 1864 ^[21] The Yellow-throated Meadow Fly
• Chrysotoxum plumeum, Loew 1864,^[21] The Broad-banded Meadow Fly

• Paragus angustifrons(Loew, 1863)^[15]Narrow-faced Grass Skimmer
• Paragus tibialis(Fallén, 1817)^[27]
• Paragus haemorrhous(Meigen, 1822)^[32]Black-backed Grass Skimmer
• Paragus angustistylus(Vockeroth, 1986)Thin-spined Grass Skimmer

Allograpta(Osten Sacken, 1875),^[50] once recognized is found to be a common species across the state along with Toxomerus.

• Allograpta obliqua(Say, 1823) Say, T. 1823. Descriptions of dipterous insects of the United States. J. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philad. Oblique Streaktail

Dasysyrphus (Enderlein, 1938) have recently been reviewed.^[51]

• Dasysyrphus laticaudus(Curran, 1925)^[52]Boreal Conifer Fly
• Dasysyrphus limatus(Hine, 1922)Narrow-banded Conifer
• Dasysyrphus venustus(Meigen), 1822 ^[32]Transverse Conifer Fly
• Dasysyrphus intrudens(Osten Sacken, 1877)Confusing Conifer Fly

Didea(Macquart, 1834) has a single species in New York.

• Didea fuscipes(Loew, 1863)^[15]Undivided Lucent Fly

• Doros aequalis(Loew, 1863)^[15]Canadian Potter Fly

• Epistrophe grossulariae(Meigen, 1822)^[32]Black-horned Smoothtail
• Epistrophe nitidicollis(Meigen, 1822)^[32]Straight-banded Smoothtail
• Epistrophe xanthostoma(Williston, 1887)Emarginate Smoothtail

Epistrophella emarginata(Say, 1823) Slender Smoothtail

• Eupeodes americanus(Wiedemann, 1830)^[14]Long-tailed Aphideater
• Eupeodes latifasciatus(Macquart, 1829)Variable Aphideater
• Eupeodes perplexus(Osburn, 1910)Bare-winged Aphideater
• Eupeodes pomus(Curran, 1921)Short-tailed Aphideater
• Eupeodes volucris(Osten Sacken, 1877)bird hoverfly

• Lapposyrphus lapponicus(Zetterstedt, 1838)Common Loopwing Aphideater

Leucozona(Schiner, 1860) with one distinct species in New York. Another species, Leucozona xylotoides, has been observed in states bordering the eastern border of New York.

Leucozona americana(Curran, 1923)American Whitebelt .

• Megasyrphus laxus(Osten Sacken, 1875)^[50]Black-legged Gossamer

Melangyna(Verrall, 1901)

• Melangyna fisherii(Walton, 1911)^[34]Large-spotted Halfband
• Melangyna lasiophthalma(Zetterstedt, 1843)Hair-eyed Halfband
• Melangyna umbellatarum(Fabricius, 1794)^[33]Bare-winged Halfband

The Meligramma(Frey, 1946) species in New York is also common in Europe

• Meligramma triangulifera(Zetterstedt, 1843)^[53]Variable Roundtail

Meliscaeva(Frey, 1946) our one species is also common in Europe.

• Meliscaeva cinctella^[53]Common Thintail

• Ocyptamus fuscipennis(Say, 1823)^[54]Dusky-winged Hover Fly

• Parasyrphus vockerothiThompson 2012 ^[55]Vockeroth's Bristleside

• Philhelius flavipes(Loew, 1863)^[15]American Harlequin Fly

New York species all with bright yellow and black abdominal markings the thorax is dark with yellow scutellum. yellow markings along the sides and hemispherical male terminalia

• Sphaerophoria asymmetrica(Knutson, 1973)^[56]Asymmetric Globetail
• Sphaerophoria contigua(Macquart, 1847)^[38]Tufted Globetail
• Sphaerophoria novaeangliae(Johnson, 1916)^[57]Black-striped Globetail
• Sphaerophoria philanthus(Meigen, 1822)^[32]Black-footed Globetail

• Syrphus knabi The Eastern Flower Fly.
• Syrphus rectus The Yellow-legged Flower Fly.
• Syrphus torvus The Hairy-eyed Flower Fly
• Syrphus vitripennis The Black-legged Flower Fly.

• Toxomerus marginatus (Say, 1823) Margined Calligrapher, the most common hoverfly in New York
• Toxomerus politus(Say, 1823)Maize Calligrapher
• Toxomerus geminatus(Say, 1823)^[6]Eastern Calligrapher