Identification key for the genera of Syrphidae (Diptera) from the Brazilian Amazon and new taxon records

Abstract

ABSTRACT Identification keys are essential to properly recognize taxa, and a photographic key not only addresses that issue but can also attract the interest of the general public if designed correctly. Syrphidae is one of the largest families of Diptera, and the Brazilian Amazon holds more taxon records from this family than currently reported. The aim of the current study was to provide an updated photographic identification key, of easy use and access, to the genera of Syrphidae (Diptera) from the Brazilian Amazon region, and identify previously unrecorded taxa. Through a literature review and study of collection material from several institutions, I found 36 new taxon records for the Brazilian Amazon (15 are first records for Brazil) and provided a list of references with identification keys to species from each genus. The online version of this manuscript has a photographic identification key, with diagnostic pages for each genus, as supplementary material.