# Meadow Flies (*Chrysotoxum*) Meadow flies are small, colorful insects that love to buzz around flowers. They are often seen in sunny meadows, where they help pollinate plants while searching for nectar. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Meadows ![Meadow Flies](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Zweiband_Wespenschwebfliege_Chrysotoxum_bicinctum.jpg&width=800) Photo: Richard Bartz , Munich aka Makro Freak, CC BY-SA 2.5 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Zweiband_Wespenschwebfliege_Chrysotoxum_bicinctum.jpg) ## Appearance The Meadow Flies has a slender body, often featuring bright yellow and black stripes across its abdomen, making it resemble a wasp or bee. It possesses two clear wings and large, prominent compound eyes that cover much of its head. Their short, stubby antennae distinguish them from the longer antennae of bees. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Diptera - **Family:** Syrphidae - **Genus:** Chrysotoxum ## Interesting facts - Instead of chewing, adult Meadow Flies use a spongy tongue to slurp up sweet nectar. - Some Meadow Flies larvae are secret agents, living hidden inside ant nests! - Their wings beat so incredibly fast, over 200 times every single second! - Wow! Meadow Flies can fly backwards and sideways, amazing aerial tricks! ## Special abilities - **Perfect Hovering:** Meadow Flies can stay perfectly still in mid-air because of their powerful wing muscles, which helps them search for flowers or avoid predators. - **Disguise Master:** Meadow Flies has bright yellow and black patterns that make them look like wasps, which helps them scare away hungry birds and other attackers. - **Aphid Predator Power:** Meadow Flies larvae can gobble up many tiny aphids because of their strong mouthparts, which helps farmers protect their crops naturally. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 15-30 mm - **Size:** 8-18 mm - **Lifespan:** 15-40 days - **Flight Speed:** 10 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding Adults sip sweet nectar and pollen, while their hungry young often munch on garden pests! - **Age differences:** Larvae are often carnivorous, feasting on aphids, while adults primarily feed on nectar and pollen. - **Primary Foods:** nectar, pollen, aphids, honeydew - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** [Dandelion](https://www.snappit.app/explore/dandelion) (*Taraxacum officinale*) — Adults visit their flowers for nectar and pollen. - **Hunts:** Cotton Aphid (*Aphis gossypii*) — Their larvae prey on these tiny garden pests. - **Eaten by:** [Great Tit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-tit) (*Parus major*) — A common bird that will feed on adult flies. - **Pollinates:** Raspberry (*Rubus idaeus*) — Help these plants produce their delicious fruit. ## 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. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [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. - [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 Meadow flies are harmless, but it's best to watch them from a distance. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Meadow 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 Meadow Flies's wingspan? 15-30 mm ### How big is Meadow Flies? 8-18 mm ### How long does Meadow Flies live? 15-40 days ### How fast can Meadow Flies fly? 10 km/h ### What does Meadow Flies eat? Adults sip sweet nectar and pollen, while their hungry young often munch on garden pests! ### Where is Meadow Flies usually found? Meadows ### How does Meadow Flies hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Kokanee Glacier Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/kokanee-glacier-provincial-park) — British Columbia, CA · State 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: [Meadow Flies: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/meadow-flies)