New Hoverfly Species

New Hoverfly Species Latest News

Researchers from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) recently discovered two new species of hoverflies named Eristalinus sapphirinus and Eristalinus brunettii from the Gangetic Plains of West Bengal.

About Eristalinus sapphirinus and Eristalinus brunettii

• These are two new species of hoverflies.
• They were discovered from the Gangetic Plains of West Bengal. 
• Eristalinus sapphirinus is named for its striking, sapphire-blue metallic coloration. 
• Eristalinus brunettii is named in honour of entomologist  Enrico Adelelmo Brunetti, acknowledging his immense historical contributions to the study of Indian Diptera (flies). 
• The discovery expands the known diversity of the Eristalinus genus in India, with the last major contribution to the group’s taxonomy dating back to 1923.
• Members of the Eristalinus genus support ecosystems in two distinct life stages.
  • As adults, they act as critical pollinators for wild and cultivated plants. 
  • As larvae (commonly known as “rat-tailed maggots“), they develop in aquatic habitats where they decompose organic matter and recycle essential nutrients. 

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What are Hoverflies?

• Hoverflies, often referred to as flower flies or drone flies, are beneficial insects that appear in large numbers during the spring and summer. 
• They belong to the order Diptera and the family Syrphidae. 
• They are often mistaken for bees or wasps and can cause undue fear over possible stings.
• However,  they do not possess stingers. 
• Hoverflies can be readily distinguished from wasps and bees by their single pair of wings. In comparison, bees and wasps have two pairs of wings. 
• Hover flies also have a typical fly head with short antennae and bulbous eyes.
• Adult hover flies are 4-10 mm long and have dark flattened bodies with black and yellow markings.
• During flight, many hover flies move in a characteristic way. As their name suggests, they hover over objects but will also dart to and fro.
• Hoverflies are among the most important pollinators globally, providing pollination services to many crops and natural vegetation.

Source: PIB