Abstract
Eighteen (18) species of hover flies (Insecta:Diptera:Syrphidae) under 14 genera and 2 subfamilies has been reported from the Cold dry zone of Himachal Pradesh which includes Kinnaur, Lahul & Spiti and Pangi range of Chamba districs. 4 species namely Chrysotoxum violaceum Brunetti, 1923, Sphiximorpha triangulifera (Brunetti, 1913),Mallota (Mallota) orientalis (Wiedemann, 1824), Mallota (Mallota) varicolor(Walker, 1856) has been reported from the first time from this cold and dry zone zone as well as from the state of Himachal Pradesh. Their taxonomic keys and detail diagnosis of the reported species has been discussed along with the distributional pattern of these species along the cold dry zone of Himachal Pradesh.
Highlights
The flies of family Syrphidae (Insecta: Diptera: Brachycera) is commonly known as Hover flies or flower flies
Normal rainfall is remarkably low in this zone (50-100 mm) but snow fall is very heavy resulting in the formation of cold dry zone in this upper elevation area
Syrphidae (New Records from the state of Himachal Pradesh has been demarcated with asterisk)
Summary
The flies of family Syrphidae (Insecta: Diptera: Brachycera) is commonly known as Hover flies or flower flies. Hover flies are distributed worldwide largely with 6,000 known species placed in more than 300 distinctive group. (Pape & Thomson, 2018).Almost all adult syrphids visit flower for pollen and nectar while larval stages exhibited a very diverse array of feeding modes with complex morphological and behavioural adaptations. Hoverflies are usually variable in body size ranging from small to large, slender to robust in shape and size. Syrphid flies cabn be distinguished by yellow and orange markings on head, thorax and abdomen. Many of this pollinator flies are excellent mimics of aculeate hymenoptera
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