# Hover Flies (*Syrphidae*) Hover flies are small, friendly insects that look like tiny bees. They love to fly around flowers and help plants by spreading pollen. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Urban areas - **Also known as:** Syrphid Fly ![Hover Flies](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Hoverfly07.jpg&width=800) Photo: User:Fir0002, GFDL 1.2 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hoverfly07.jpg) ## Appearance The Hover Flies has a stout, often furry body with bright yellow and black stripes, making them look a lot like bees or wasps. They possess large, compound eyes and a single pair of clear wings, setting them apart from four-winged insects. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Diptera - **Family:** Syrphidae ## Interesting facts - Many hover fly larvae are incredible aphid hunters, eating hundreds in their short lives! - Some hover fly species can even fly backward or upside down with amazing aerial skill! - They are completely harmless to humans; they cannot sting or bite! - Unlike bees or wasps, hover flies only have one pair of wings, not two! ## Special abilities - **Master of Mid-Air:** Hover Flies can hover perfectly still, fly backward, and dart rapidly because they have specialized wing muscles that allow incredibly precise flight control. - **Pest Patrol Larvae:** Hover Flies have larvae that are voracious predators of aphids and other soft-bodied pests, helping gardeners protect their plants naturally. - **Clever Disguise:** Hover Flies can mimic the appearance of stinging bees and wasps because their striped patterns and fuzzy bodies trick predators into staying away. - **Flower Friend:** Hover Flies can effectively pollinate many flowers because they visit blooms for nectar and pollen, transferring it between plants. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 8-50 mm - **Size:** 4-25 mm - **Lifespan:** 7-30 days - **Flight Speed:** 10 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding Adults sip nectar and pollen; larvae feast on plant pests like aphids! - **Age differences:** Adults feed on nectar and pollen; larvae are typically predatory on aphids or detritivorous. - **Primary Foods:** Nectar, Pollen, Aphids, Mealybugs, Decaying organic matter - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Wild Carrot (*Daucus carota*) — Transfers pollen while feeding on flowers. - **Eaten by:** [Great Tit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-tit) (*Parus major*) — A common bird predator of adult hover flies. - **Hunts:** Cotton Aphid (*Aphis gossypii*) — Larvae prey on these common garden pests. - **Eaten by:** Black and Yellow Garden Spider (*Argiope aurantia*) — Often caught in spider webs while flying. ## 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. - [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 Hover flies are friendly and safe, but always be gentle around insects. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Hover 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 Hover Flies's wingspan? 8-50 mm ### How big is Hover Flies? 4-25 mm ### How long does Hover Flies live? 7-30 days ### How fast can Hover Flies fly? 10 km/h ### What does Hover Flies eat? Adults sip nectar and pollen; larvae feast on plant pests like aphids! ### Where is Hover Flies usually found? Urban areas ### How does Hover Flies hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Denny Blaine Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/denny-blaine-park) — Washington, US · Park ## 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: [Hover Flies: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/hover-flies)