Tribes of Syrphinae

Flower flies

Tribes of Syrphinae

Berry flies

Tribe Bacchini

These are small slender flies, mimics of Scoliid wasps with pale markings on their abdomen, or metallic colors. Their abdomen tends to be long, straight, slightly ovoid and relatively thin and flat, hence it is useful to view these flies from one side.

True flower flies

Tribe Syrphini

The largest Tribe of hoverflies, with more than 30 genera, is probably polyphyletic: they are descendants of several different ancestors. They all have predatory larvae, and adults that eat nectar and pollen; and unlike the Bacchini their abdomen is stout and thick.Syrphus ribesii, Iceberg Point,

Lopez Island

Poison flies

Tribe Toxomerini

Despite their name, these small flies are delicate and harmless (unless you are an aphid). Many species look like Bacchini, but our most common Salish Sea species has unique pale markings.