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”’Eristalinae”’ (or Milesiinae) are one of the four subfamilies of the fly [[family (biology)|family]] [[Hoverfly|Syrphidae]], or hoverflies. A well-known species included in this subfamily is the [[Eristalis tenax|common drone fly, ”Eristalis tenax”]].<ref name=”Bartsch”>{{cite book |last= Bartsch|first= Hans|title= TvÃ¥vingar: Blomflugor Diptera: Syrphidae: Eristalinae & Microdontinae|trans-title=Flies: hoverfly Diptera: Syrphidae: Eristalinae & Microdontinae|type= hardback|series= Nationalnyckeln/en/|volume= 2|year= 2009 |publisher= The Swedish Taxonomy Initiative|language= sv|isbn= 9789188506702|pages= 1–478}}<!–|access-date= 19 July 2013 –></ref><ref name=”Stubbs”>{{cite book|last1= Stubbs |first1= Alan E. |last2 = Falk |first2 = Steven J.|year=2002 |title=British Hoverflies: An Illustrated Identification Guide|pages=469 | edition = 2nd of Revised | isbn = 978-1899935055 |publisher=[[British Entomological and Natural History Society]]}}</ref><ref name=skev> {{cite book |last=Skevington |first=Jeffrey H. |author-link= |date=2019 |title= Field Guide to the Flower Flies of Northeastern North America. |url= |location= |publisher= |page= |isbn= 9780691189406 }} </ref> |
”’Eristalinae”’ (or Milesiinae) are one of the four subfamilies of the fly [[family (biology)|family]] [[Hoverfly|Syrphidae]], or hoverflies. A well-known species included in this subfamily is the [[Eristalis tenax|common drone fly, ”Eristalis tenax”]].<ref name=”Bartsch”>{{cite book |last= Bartsch|first= Hans|title= TvÃ¥vingar: Blomflugor Diptera: Syrphidae: Eristalinae & Microdontinae|trans-title=Flies: hoverfly Diptera: Syrphidae: Eristalinae & Microdontinae|type= hardback|series= Nationalnyckeln/en/|volume= 2|year= 2009 |publisher= The Swedish Taxonomy Initiative|language= sv|isbn= 9789188506702|pages= 1–478}}<!–|access-date= 19 July 2013 –></ref><ref name=”Stubbs”>{{cite book|last1= Stubbs |first1= Alan E. |last2 = Falk |first2 = Steven J.|year=2002 |title=British Hoverflies: An Illustrated Identification Guide|pages=469 | edition = 2nd of Revised | isbn = 978-1899935055 |publisher=[[British Entomological and Natural History Society]]}}</ref><ref name=skev> {{cite book |last=Skevington |first=Jeffrey H. |author-link= |date=2019 |title= Field Guide to the Flower Flies of Northeastern North America. |url= |location= |publisher= |page= |isbn= 9780691189406 }} </ref> |
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Species in this subfamily are often |
Species in this subfamily are often bees due to their exceptional [[ mimicry]], especially to resemble Honeybees (family [[Apidae]]). The best strategy for proper identification is to look at their eyes and wings and compare with fly morphology, to determine membership of family [[Hoverfly|Syrphidae]] or of order [[Hymenoptera]]. |
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==Taxonomy== |
==Taxonomy== |
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Latest revision as of 19:41, 10 November 2025
Subfamily of flies
| Eristalinae | |
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| Volucella zonaria ♀ specimen, dorsal perspective | |
Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Diptera |
| Family: | Syrphidae |
| Subfamily: | Eristalinae |
| Tribes | |
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See text |
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| Synonyms | |
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Eristalinae (or Milesiinae) are one of the four subfamilies of the fly family Syrphidae, or hoverflies. A well-known species included in this subfamily is the common drone fly, Eristalis tenax.[1][2][3]
Species in this subfamily are often mistaken for bees due to their exceptional Batesian mimicry, especially to resemble Honeybees (family Apidae). 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.
This subfamily consists of the following tribes:
Larvae of the subfamily Eristalinae respire through a pair of posterior spiracular lobes, which are fused to form a single elongated breathing tube, characteristic of the Syrphidae.[4] This subfamily exhibits the greatest diversity of larval habitats within the hoverflies, occurring in sap runs, under bark, rot holes, decaying organic matter such as dung and compost, and in shallow aquatic environments. Most larvae feed on decomposing organic material and act as filter feeders, helping to purify water by consuming microorganisms and detritus. In some species, such as the drone fly and rat-tailed maggot, the breathing tube functions as a fully extendable snorkel. A few species also feed on plant bulbs and may be regarded as garden pests.[5]
Certain species in Eristalinae live as scavengers and take shelter in the remains of other insects, while others, like Volucella,[6] are parasitoids 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.[6]
3. [1] Bugguide.net
4. [2] 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.
