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Common Flower Flies

Syrphus

Common Flower Flies are friendly little insects that look like bees but are not. They love to visit flowers and help plants by spreading pollen while they sip nectar.

Habitat: Urban areas

Appearance

The Common Flower Flies has a distinctive yellow and black striped abdomen, mimicking a bee or wasp. They possess a broad head with large compound eyes and short, stubby antennae, but unlike bees, they only have two wings.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumArthropodaClassInsectaOrderDipteraFamilySyrphidaeGenusSyrphus
Common Flower Flies
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Common Flower Flies

Category

Insects

Rarity

Common

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Snaps

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Interesting facts

A flower fly's huge eyes help them spot food and mates with amazing speed!

Some flower fly larvae eat hundreds of aphids in their lifetime!

They steer using tiny vibrating organs called halteres, not their back wings!

While they look like bees, flower flies cannot sting or bite people!

Special abilities

Ability

Aerial Acrobat

Common Flower Flies can hover perfectly still in mid-air because of their unique wing structure that helps them quickly change direction.

Ability

Bug Disguise

Common Flower Flies has a striped pattern and buzzing sound that helps them fool predators into thinking they are dangerous bees or wasps.

Ability

Pest Patrol

Common Flower Flies larvae can devour hundreds of aphids because of their insatiable appetite that helps control garden pests.

Ability

Flower Helper

Common Flower Flies can spread pollen between plants because they visit many flowers, helping them grow and produce seeds.

Measurements & details

Wingspan
10-15 mm
Size
7-12 mm
Lifespan
20-50 days
Flight Speed
15 km/h
Leg Count
6

Diet & Feeding

Adults sip nectar and pollen; larvae gobble up garden pests like aphids!

Age differences: Larvae are predatory insectivores, devouring soft-bodied pests. Adults feed solely on nectar and pollen.

Primary Foods

  • Nectar
  • Pollen
  • Aphids
  • Mealybugs
  • Small caterpillars

Foraging Method

  • Foraging

Ecological connections

pollinates

French Rose

Rosa gallica

Visits flowers for nectar and pollen.

eats

Black Bean Aphid

Aphis fabae

Larvae feast on these common garden pests.

eaten by

Great Tit

Parus major

Common bird predators catch adult flies.

eaten by

Goldenrod Crab Spider

Misumena vatia

Ambush predators on flowers.

Traits

Also known as

No aliases listed yet.

Collections

Safety

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Flower flies are safe to watch and won't sting you, but it's best to observe them from a distance.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Common Flower Flies's wingspan?

10-15 mm

How big is Common Flower Flies?

7-12 mm

How long does Common Flower Flies live?

20-50 days

How fast can Common Flower Flies fly?

15 km/h

What does Common Flower Flies eat?

Adults sip nectar and pollen; larvae gobble up garden pests like aphids!

Where is Common Flower Flies usually found?

Urban areas

How does Common Flower Flies hunt?

Foraging

How many legs does Common Flower Flies have?

6

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