Diversity of Syrphidae (Diptera: Brachycera) on the amazonian canopy: species richness, vertical stratification and identification

Abstract

The Amazon is home to about 15% of all the world's biodiversity, which makes it the most diverse biome in the world, on which the insect fauna to be discovered may even overcome 95%. Even with its enormous species diversity, the Amazon is one the biomes in Brazil, according to its territory and importance, that receive less funding for researches focused on biodiversity. The family Syrphidae (Diptera Brachycera) includes about 6,300 valid described species across the world, occurring all over the planet (except on Antarctica), divided in 79 genus, of which 61 occur in the Amazon. The adequate identification of these genus and species is crucial to understanding their distribution and to any conservation to be had in conservation. The existing taxonomic keys for the group, accessible in Brazil, on the other hand, are focused on specific regions. Therefore, this project aims to utilize the Syrphidae material available through the Thematic Project "Biodiversidade de insetos em uma floresta tropical amazônica - riqueza de espécies, estrutura vertical e turnover faunístico" (Proc. FAPESP 2021/14.092-0), alongside with the material available in other regions to: (1) recognize the genus found in the project and create a connection with their known biology; (2) understand the vertical fauna structure of Syrphidae in the tropical forest; (3) generate an image bank with the Central Amazonian species; (4) create an illustrated dichotomous key to identify the Syrphidae genus on the region; (5) describe at least a portion of the newly found species during the project.