Minnesota Seasons - Marsh Flies (Helophilus spp.)

Overview • Description • Distribution • Taxonomy

hoverfly (Helophilus sp.) — Photo by Bill Reynolds

Overview

.

Description

Distribution

Distribution Map

Sources

24, 27, 29, 30, 82, 83.

Biodiversity occurrence data published by: Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas (accessed through the Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas Portal, bellatlas.umn.edu, 10/29/2025).

Telford, Horace S.. (1939). The Syrphidae of Minnesota. University of Minnesota. Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station.

10/29/2025

Taxonomy

Order

Diptera (flies)

Suborder

Brachycera

Infraorder

Cyclorrhapha

Zoosection

Aschiza

Family

Syrphidae (hover flies)

Subfamily

Eristalinae (drone flies and allies)

Tribe

Eristalini (rat-tail maggot flies)

Subtribe

Helophiliina

Subordinate Taxa

Black-margined marsh fly (Helophilus groenlandicus)

broad-headed marsh fly (Helophilus latifrons)

Gray-banded marsh fly (Helophilus bottnicus)

marsh fly (Helophilus affinis)

narrow-headed marsh fly (Helophilus fasciatus)

Northwestern marsh fly (Helophilus neoaffinis)

Obscure marsh fly (Helophilus obscurus)

woolly-tailed marsh fly (Helophilus hybridus)

Yellow-legged marsh fly (Helophilus intentus)

Yellow-margined marsh fly (Helophilus lapponicus)

Synonyms

Eurhimyia

Eurinomyia

Eurymyia

Heliophilus

Common Names

marsh flies

Visitor Photos

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Bill Reynolds

This is a Hover fly of the genus Helophilus.

This is the first sighting of this year for a Hover Fly for me this year. It is on a Toka Plum blossom.

MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos

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Visitor Sightings

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Bill Reynolds
5/20/2018

Location: Pennington Co MN

This is a Hover fly of the genus Helophilus. This is the first sighting of this year for a Hover Fly for me this year. It is on a Toka Plum blossom.

MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings

Moose Lake State Park

Stanley Eddy Memorial Park Reserve

Binoculars

Marsh flies