# Northern Plushback (*Palpada vinetorum*) The Northern Plushback is a fuzzy little fly that loves to hang out in gardens and fields. Its soft, plushy body helps it blend in with flowers and plants, making it a fun insect to spot! - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 2 - **Habitat:** Gardens and fields ![Northern Plushback](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Syrphid_Fly_%28Palpada_sp.%29_%287558922774%29.jpg&width=800) Photo: Bob Peterson from North Palm Beach, Florida, Planet Earth!, CC BY-SA 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Syrphid_Fly_%28Palpada_sp.%29_%287558922774%29.jpg) ## Appearance The Northern Plushback is a medium-sized fly with a fuzzy, bee-like body striped in bright yellow and black. Its clear wings are held out to the sides while resting. This distinct coloration makes it visually different from other flies, mimicking stinging insects. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Diptera - **Family:** Syrphidae - **Genus:** Palpada ## Interesting facts - Even though it looks like a bee, this fly cannot sting you! - Its larvae sometimes eat tiny garden pests like aphids! - Some hoverfly larvae live in water and breathe through a 'snorkel'! - They can fly backwards, which is super rare for an insect! ## Special abilities - **Hovering Master:** Northern Plushback can hover perfectly still in the air because of its rapid wing beats, helping them spot flowers or mates. - **Disguise Expert:** Northern Plushback has a fuzzy yellow and black striped body that helps them look like a stinging bee or wasp, scaring predators away. - **Pollen Power:** Northern Plushback can transfer pollen between flowers on its fuzzy body, helping plants reproduce and creating food for other creatures. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 18-28 mm - **Size:** 10-14 mm - **Lifespan:** 15-30 days - **Flight Speed:** 15 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding Adult Northern Plushbacks drink flower nectar and eat pollen for energy. - **Age differences:** Larvae are often detritivores, eating decaying plant matter, or predators, eating aphids. - **Primary Foods:** nectar, pollen - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** Cotton aphid (*Aphis gossypii*) — Larval Northern Plushbacks feast on these garden pests. - **Pollinates:** [New England aster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/new-england-aster) (*Aster novae-angliae*) — Adults transfer pollen between its beautiful purple flowers. - **Eaten by:** Flower crab spider (*Misumena vatia*) — This ambush spider sometimes preys on adults visiting flowers. ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [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 These flies are friendly and won't hurt you, but it's best to watch them from a distance. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Northern Plushback? 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 Northern Plushback's wingspan? 18-28 mm ### How big is Northern Plushback? 10-14 mm ### How long does Northern Plushback live? 15-30 days ### How fast can Northern Plushback fly? 15 km/h ### What does Northern Plushback eat? Adult Northern Plushbacks drink flower nectar and eat pollen for energy. ### Where is Northern Plushback usually found? Gardens and fields ### How does Northern Plushback hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Howard County Courthouse](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/howard-county-courthouse) — Nebraska, US · Historic Site - [Longue Vue House and Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/longue-vue-house-and-gardens) — Louisiana, US · Botanical Garden ## 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: [Northern Plushback: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/northern-plushback)