ExploreInsects

Pufftails

Sphegina

Pufftails are small, colorful insects that love to buzz around flowers. They help plants grow by spreading pollen while they sip sweet nectar.

Habitat: Gardens

Appearance

The Pufftails is a small, delicate fly often displaying black and yellow stripes. It has a distinctive slender 'waist' and some species feature slightly enlarged, 'puffy' hind legs. Its single pair of clear wings and hovering flight distinguish it from similar-looking bees.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumArthropodaClassInsectaOrderDipteraFamilySyrphidaeGenusSphegina
Pufftails
furry trait badgesocial trait badgecolorful trait badgeherbivorous trait badge
Pufftails

Category

Insects

Rarity

Common

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Snaps

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Interesting facts

Many Pufftails larvae are secret garden helpers, eating aphids that harm plants!

Pufftails can fly backward and sideways, making them super agile!

Pufftails drink nectar using a special straw-like mouth, not a tongue!

Unlike bees, Pufftails only have two wings, but they fly just as well!

Special abilities

Ability

Aerial Acrobatics

Pufftails can hover perfectly still because their unique wings allow them to dodge predators and find flowers.

Ability

Master Mimicry

Pufftails has a striped body pattern that helps them look like stinging wasps, scaring away hungry predators.

Ability

Lightning Dash

Pufftails can dart away at incredible speeds, helping them escape danger or quickly move between flowers.

Measurements & details

Wingspan
6-16 mm
Size
4-8 mm
Lifespan
14-40 days
Flight Speed
15 km/h
Leg Count
6

Diet & Feeding

Adults feed on sweet flower nectar and pollen; larvae are tiny garden pest controllers!

Age differences: Larvae are predatory, feeding on aphids and other small insects; adults consume nectar and pollen.

Primary Foods

  • Nectar
  • Pollen
  • Aphids
  • Honeydew

Foraging Method

  • Foraging

Ecological connections

Traits

Also known as

No aliases listed yet.

Collections

Safety

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Pufftails are friendly and won't hurt you, but it's best to watch them from a distance.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Pufftails's wingspan?

6-16 mm

How big is Pufftails?

4-8 mm

How long does Pufftails live?

14-40 days

How fast can Pufftails fly?

15 km/h

What does Pufftails eat?

Adults feed on sweet flower nectar and pollen; larvae are tiny garden pest controllers!

Where is Pufftails usually found?

Gardens

How does Pufftails hunt?

Foraging

How many legs does Pufftails have?

6

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