Diptera (Syrphidae)

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Category: Insect & spider

Leg with/without claw

Hover flies have club shaped tarsal segments, with some species these segments each have a dark pigment spot at the top.

 syrphidae leg  syrphidae leg2    
leg fragment with dark spot leg fragment with dark spot    

Wing

With a few exceptions, hoverflies are distinguished from other flies by a spurious vein (false vein), located parallel to the fourth longitudinal wing vein.

 syrphidae wing  syrphidae wing2  syrphidae wing3    
spurious vein wing spurious vein    

Antenna

The antennaa has three segments (though often the segment nearest to the head is missing) and an arista.

           
           

head, eye, palp

The maxillary palp is long and slender. The compound eyes are large.

         
         

Other, balance organ, egg

The halter (or balance organ)  has a long slender shaft, with an extended spoon-like tip.