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Margined Calligrapher
ExploreInsects
Margined Calligrapher
Toxomerus marginatus
The Margined Calligrapher is a small, friendly fly that loves to buzz around flowers. It has beautiful stripes and helps flowers by spreading pollen as it visits them.
Habitat: Urban areas
Appearance
The Margined Calligrapher is a small fly with a striking appearance. It has a black and yellow striped abdomen, often resembling a tiny wasp or bee, and clear, delicate wings. Its body often has a slightly flattened look.
KingdomAnimaliaPhylumArthropodaClassInsectaOrderDipteraFamilySyrphidaeGenusToxomerus
Category
InsectsRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
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Interesting facts
Even though they look striped like a scary wasp, they can't sting you at all!
Some people call them 'flower flies' because they love visiting bright blossoms.
Their tiny eyes have thousands of lenses, giving them super amazing vision.
They can fly backwards and even sideways, a rare trick for an insect!
Special abilities
Ability
Super Hovering
Margined Calligrapher can hover in place like a tiny helicopter, allowing them to precisely collect nectar and scout for aphids.
Ability
Aphid Hunter (Larvae)
Margined Calligrapher larvae can gobble up hundreds of garden aphids, helping plants stay healthy and strong.
Ability
Plant Pollinator
Margined Calligrapher can visit many flowers, transferring pollen from bloom to bloom and helping plants reproduce.
Measurements & details
- Wingspan
- 8-14 mm
- Size
- 4-7 mm
- Lifespan
- 15-30 days
- Flight Speed
- 5-10 km/h
- Leg Count
- 6
Diet & Feeding
Adults sip sweet nectar and collect pollen, while their larvae are tiny garden heroes, eating pesky aphids.
Age differences: Larvae are carnivorous, feeding on soft-bodied insects like aphids, while adults are herbivorous, seeking nectar and pollen from flowers.
Primary Foods
- nectar
- pollen
- aphids
Foraging Method
- Foraging
Ecological connections
eats
Cotton Aphid
Aphis gossypii
Larvae feast on these tiny plant pests.
pollinates
Wild Carrot
Daucus carota
Adults visit their flowers for nectar and pollen.
eaten by
European Garden Spider
Araneus diadematus
Sometimes caught in their sticky webs by garden spiders.
Traits
Striped
Marked with parallel bands or lines of color.
Social
Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring.
Colorful
Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
Herbivorous
This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material.
Pollinator Magnet
Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.
Diurnal
Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night.
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
Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants.
Also known as
No aliases listed yet.
Collections
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
These flies are harmless, but it's best to watch them from a distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Margined Calligrapher's wingspan?
8-14 mm
How big is Margined Calligrapher?
4-7 mm
How long does Margined Calligrapher live?
15-30 days
How fast can Margined Calligrapher fly?
5-10 km/h
What does Margined Calligrapher eat?
Adults sip sweet nectar and collect pollen, while their larvae are tiny garden heroes, eating pesky aphids.
Where is Margined Calligrapher usually found?
Urban areas
How does Margined Calligrapher hunt?
Foraging
How many legs does Margined Calligrapher have?
6
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