Comparative morphometry and life cycle of different syrphid species

Biological aspects of different syrphid species viz., Episyrphus balteatus, Betasyrphus aeneifrons and Syrphus sp. were studied and the results revealed that the larvae passes through three instars and completed life cycle of male and female were recorded E. Balteatus (37.60 ± 1.52 and 38.60 ± 1.52 days) maximum as compared to Syrphus sp. and B. aeneifron respectively. The maximum hatching percentage of eggs, 89.30 was found in E. balteatus as compared to B. aeneifrons and Syrphus sp. and incubation periods were 3.20 ± 0.45, 2.80 ± 0.45 and 3.40 ± 0.55 days, respectively.