Sun Fly

Helophilus pendulus

The Sun Fly is a friendly insect that looks like a little bee! It loves to fly around flowers, helping them grow by spreading pollen.

Hábitat: Urban areas

Aspecto

The Sun Fly is a robust hoverfly with a dark, hairy thorax and a distinctive yellow and black striped abdomen, making it look much like a small bee. It has clear wings and often features yellowish or orangish legs. This mimicry helps it blend in visually.

ReinoAnimaliaFiloArthropodaClaseInsectaOrdenDipteraFamiliaSyrphidaeGéneroHelophilus

Sun Fly

Categoría

Insectos

Rareza

Common

Peligro

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Snaps

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Datos interesantes

Its baby stage, called a larva, has a funny 'rat-tail' that can stretch super long!

Some sun fly larvae are super tough, even living in really dirty water!

Sun flies are expert fliers, able to zip around quickly and even fly backward!

These amazing insects are often confused with bees, but they don't sting at all!

Habilidades especiales

Sun Fly larvae have a long, snorkel-like breathing tube that helps them breathe air while living underwater in muddy puddles.

Sun Fly can hover perfectly still in the air because of its agile wing movements, helping them spot flowers or mates.

Sun Fly helps plants grow by carrying pollen from flower to flower as it feeds, aiding in plant reproduction.

Medidas y detalles

Envergadura: 15-22 mm
Tamaño: 9-12 mm
Esperanza de vida: 7-21 días
Cantidad de patas: 6

Dieta y alimentación

Adult Sun Flies drink sweet nectar and pollen, while their larvae eat decaying plants.

Diferencias por edad: Larvae consume decaying organic matter in water, whereas adults feed on nectar and pollen from flowers.

Alimentos principales

Nectar
Pollen
Decaying plant matter
Algae

Método de búsqueda

Foraging

Conexiones ecológicas

pollinates

Dandelion

Taraxacum officinale

Adults collect nectar and pollen from its flowers.

eaten by

Barn Swallow

Hirundo rustica

These birds capture adult Sun Flies in flight for food.

depends on

Broadleaf Cattail

Typha latifolia

Larvae thrive in the muddy water found near this wetland plant.

Rasgos

Social

Los animales sociales viven en grupos organizados, cooperando para obtener beneficios de supervivencia como la búsqueda de alimento, la defensa y la cría de descendencia.

Camuflado

El camuflaje describe a los organismos que poseen colores o patrones que les permiten mezclarse con su entorno.

Colorido

Colorido describe a organismos u objetos que exhiben una amplia variedad de colores brillantes y distintivos.

Herbívoro

Este rasgo caracteriza a los organismos cuya dieta consiste total o principalmente en material vegetal.

Imán para polinizadores

Describe plantas que son particularmente atractivas y beneficiosas para una amplia variedad de organismos polinizadores.

Diurno

Los animales diurnos están activos principalmente durante el día y suelen descansar o dormir por la noche.

Adaptado a la ciudad

Esta característica de hábitat indica especies que pueden coexistir con los humanos en entornos urbanos y suburbanos, utilizando estructuras artificiales y espacios verdes.