Hoverflies, also called flower flies or syrphids, make up the insect family Syrphidae. As their common name suggests, they are often seen hovering or nectaring at flowers; the adults of many species feed mainly on nectar and pollen, while the larvae (maggots) eat a wide range of foods.

Hoverfly numbers peak in late morning on warm, sunny days in July and August. Many hoverflies are wasp or bee mimics. For example, some drone flies in the genus Eristalis look like …

Aug 14, 2018 · Hoverflies have giant “fly eyes” that cover most of their face. Bees have much smaller eyes in proportion to their heads. Hoverflies also have one set of wings, while bees have two sets of wings.

Hoverflies are a family of flies, many of which (though not all) have a yellow and black colour pattern in order to mimic bees and wasps. Whilst they are totally harmless, by resembling insects that can sting they hope to put off predators. Hoverflies only have one pair of wings so can be distinguished from bees and wasps which have two pairs.

Hoverflies are true flies in the order Diptera. They belong to the family Syrphidae, their most characteristic features is the presence of a longitudinal false vein in the wing. In Britain there are over 270 species recorded and numbers are boosted in some species due to …

Hoverflies or Syrphid Flies (or Flower Flies, if you prefer American nomenclature) belong to a big family varying from small to large flies. They are among the most frequent visitors of flowers in the garden. In Holland and Belgium alone there exist over 300 species!

Hoverflies (Family Syrphidae) are a useful group of pollinating insects that have often been overlooked due to the importance of bees as pollinators. Hoverflies mimic bees in external anatomy (black and yellow color patterns).

Aug 2, 2021 · The best way to distinguish a hoverfly from a bee is to look at the antennae. Bees have thickish antennae, whereas hoverflies have thin and hairless antennae. Hoverflies also lack the dense coat of bees, while their wings are much more translucent.

Sep 3, 2023 · Hoverflies, also known as flower flies or syrphid flies, are part of the insect family Syrphidae. These fascinating creatures are often mistaken for bees or wasps due to their color patterns, which mimic stinging insects as a form of protection from predators.

Eupeodes americanus, the American hoverfly, is found throughout North America and inhabits meadows, and fields with flowers and foliage. Adults feed on nectar, whereas their larvae feed on aphids. The adult fly is black to metallic green, and has three yellow bands on its abdomen.