# Black-legged Gossamer (*Megasyrphus laxus*) The Black-legged Gossamer is a friendly little fly that loves to buzz around flowers. It has shiny black legs and a soft body, making it look quite special in gardens and parks. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Urban areas ![Black-legged Gossamer](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Megasyrphus_laxus_P1290084a.jpg&width=800) Photo: xpda, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Megasyrphus_laxus_P1290084a.jpg) ## Appearance The Black-legged Gossamer is a medium-sized fly, often mimicking bees or wasps with its striking black and yellow-banded body. It has distinctive black legs and large, prominent eyes, making it appear sleek and agile. Unlike bees, it has short, stubby antennae. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Diptera - **Family:** Syrphidae - **Genus:** Megasyrphus ## Interesting facts - Even though they look like stinging insects, Black-legged Gossamers are completely harmless to humans. - Their larvae are like tiny bug vacuums, devouring hundreds of garden pests called aphids! - They can fly backwards! Most insects can't do this trick, showing off their amazing agility. - Unlike many flies, their flight is almost silent, allowing them to sneak up on flowers unnoticed. ## Special abilities - **Master Mimic:** Black-legged Gossamer has bright yellow and black stripes that help them look like stinging bees or wasps, scaring away predators. - **Acrobatic Hoverer:** Black-legged Gossamer can hover perfectly still in mid-air, then dart off quickly, helping them find food and escape danger. - **Aphid Assassin (Larva):** Black-legged Gossamer larvae can hunt and eat many tiny aphids, which helps plants stay healthy and pest-free. - **Flower Friend:** Black-legged Gossamer adults visit many flowers, helping to spread pollen from bloom to bloom for new seeds. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 15-25 mm - **Size:** 8-12 mm - **Lifespan:** 14-30 days - **Flight Speed:** 8 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding Adults sip nectar and pollen from flowers, while their hungry larvae feast on garden aphids. - **Age differences:** Larvae are predatory insectivores, but adults switch to a herbivorous diet of nectar and pollen. - **Primary Foods:** nectar, pollen, aphids, honeydew - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Hunts:** Cotton Aphid (*Aphis gossypii*) — Larvae consume these pests on cotton and other plants, aiding pest control. - **Pollinates:** Black-eyed Susan (*Rudbeckia hirta*) — Adults transfer pollen between these vibrant yellow flowers as they feed. - **Eaten by:** [Eastern Kingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-kingbird) (*Tyrannus tyrannus*) — This bird often catches flying insects like the Black-legged Gossamer in mid-air. - **Parasitizes:** Parasitic Wasp (*Diplazon laetatorius*) — Its larvae develop inside the gossamer larvae or pupae, eventually killing them. ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. ## Collections - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low These flies are safe and won't hurt you, so you can watch them closely! ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Black-legged Gossamer? Look for six legs, antennae, three body sections and the shape of the wings. Beetles have hardened front wings; flies have just one working pair. Tiny insects may need a close view before their group is clear. Insect Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### What is Black-legged Gossamer's wingspan? 15-25 mm ### How big is Black-legged Gossamer? 8-12 mm ### How long does Black-legged Gossamer live? 14-30 days ### How fast can Black-legged Gossamer fly? 8 km/h ### What does Black-legged Gossamer eat? Adults sip nectar and pollen from flowers, while their hungry larvae feast on garden aphids. ### Where is Black-legged Gossamer usually found? Urban areas ### How does Black-legged Gossamer hunt? Foraging ## More Insects - [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*) - [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*) - [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*) - [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*) --- Source: [Black-legged Gossamer: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-legged-gossamer)