Doliosyrphus Bigot, 1882a Palpada is a genus of 85 neotropical and nearctic flower flies or hoverflies.

It is in the tribe Eristaliini containing dozens of genera.

[1] Common sister genera include Eristalis (99 species), Meromacrus (43 sp.

The genus Palpada is distinguished by: The larvae are aquatic and have a distinctive shape, usually being referred to as rat-tailed.

The rat-tail is a breathng tube that allows the larvae to live in low oxygen water.