# 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. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Urban areas ![Common Flower Flies](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Syrphus_May_2008-1.jpg&width=800) Photo: Alvesgaspar, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Syrphus_May_2008-1.jpg) ## 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. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Diptera - **Family:** Syrphidae - **Genus:** Syrphus ## 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 - **Aerial Acrobat:** Common Flower Flies can hover perfectly still in mid-air because of their unique wing structure that helps them quickly change direction. - **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. - **Pest Patrol:** Common Flower Flies larvae can devour hundreds of aphids because of their insatiable appetite that helps control garden pests. - **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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-tit) (*Parus major*) — Common bird predators catch adult flies. - **Eaten by:** [Goldenrod Crab Spider](https://www.snappit.app/explore/goldenrod-crab-spider) (*Misumena vatia*) — Ambush predators on flowers. ## Traits - [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. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [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. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. - [Miniature](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/miniature): Pertaining to species that are significantly smaller than typical or average for their kind. - [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 Flower flies are safe to watch and won't sting you, but it's best to observe them from a distance. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Common Flower Flies? 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 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 ## 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: [Common Flower Flies: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-flower-flies)