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Narrow-headed Marsh Fly

Helophilus fasciatus

The Narrow-headed Marsh Fly is a small, friendly fly that loves to buzz around wetlands. They are often seen resting on flowers and are important for pollination, helping plants grow.

Habitat: Wetlands

Appearance

The Narrow-headed Marsh Fly is a stout, hairy insect with a distinctive black and yellow striped abdomen, resembling a small bee or wasp. It has a proportionally narrow head compared to its body, and large, dark compound eyes. Its wings are clear with a slight brownish tint near the base.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumArthropodaClassInsectaOrderDipteraFamilySyrphidaeGenusHelophilus
Narrow-headed Marsh Fly
social trait badgeherbivorous trait badgepollinator_magnet trait badgewetland trait badge
Narrow-headed Marsh Fly

Category

Insects

Rarity

Common

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Snaps

4

Interesting facts

Even though they look like bees, these flies cannot sting you!

Their babies have a special "tail" that's like a snorkel!

These flies help our food grow by visiting countless flowers!

They fly with incredible agility, even hovering perfectly still!

Special abilities

Ability

Master Mimicry

Narrow-headed Marsh Fly has a bee-like pattern that helps them scare away predators who think they might sting!

Ability

Underwater Breathing Tube

Narrow-headed Marsh Fly larvae can breathe underwater using a long tube that helps them access air from the surface.

Ability

Pollination Power

Narrow-headed Marsh Fly can drink nectar while spreading pollen, which helps many plants make seeds and grow.

Measurements & details

Wingspan
18-24 mm
Size
9-12 mm
Lifespan
20-60 days
Leg Count
6

Diet & Feeding

Adults sip nectar and pollen from flowers, while their larvae clean up decaying stuff in water.

Age differences: Larvae live underwater, feeding on decaying organic matter, while adults emerge to feed on nectar and pollen from flowers.

Primary Foods

  • nectar
  • pollen

Foraging Method

  • Foraging

Ecological connections

Traits

Also known as

No aliases listed yet.

Collections

Safety

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Narrow-headed Marsh Flies are safe to observe. Just watch them from a distance!

Frequently Asked Questions

How to identify Narrow-headed Marsh Fly?

The easiest way to identify Narrow-headed Marsh Fly is to use the Snappit nature identifier app.

What is Narrow-headed Marsh Fly's wingspan?

18-24 mm

How big is Narrow-headed Marsh Fly?

9-12 mm

How long does Narrow-headed Marsh Fly live?

20-60 days

What does Narrow-headed Marsh Fly eat?

Adults sip nectar and pollen from flowers, while their larvae clean up decaying stuff in water.

Where is Narrow-headed Marsh Fly usually found?

Wetlands

How does Narrow-headed Marsh Fly hunt?

Foraging

How many legs does Narrow-headed Marsh Fly have?

6

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