How do you know if you have a syrphid fly?
Identification. Adults are robust to slender flies 1/8 to 1 inch (4–25 mm) long, varying by species. The broad head is about the width of the abdomen or wider and has large eyes with distinct antennae. The body of many adults is black with bands or stripes of orange, yellow, or white, resembling stinging bees or wasps.
What do syrphid flies look like?
Many have the typical black and yellow stripes on the abdomen that give them a bee-like appearance, but others are hairy with a long, thin abdomen. All have short antennae. Adult hoverflies feed on nectar and pollen. The adults need flowers as nectar and pollen sources.
Are syrphid flies harmful?
Good Growing Tip of the Week: Syrphid files have sponge-like mouthparts that they use to feed on nectar, pollen, and if they land on humans, sweat. Despite what many people think, they don’t bite or sting. If you do get stung by a small insect feeding on your sweat, it is most likely a ‘true’ sweat bee.
How do you distinguish Diptera?
Insects in the order Diptera have only one pair of wings (2 wings total). Their antennae are generally shorter than their head. Insects in the order Neuroptera have long, thin, cylindrical bodies. Their two pairs of wings are generally the same size.
Where are syrphid flies found?
Adult flies can be found hovering around flowers, feeding on nectar and pollen. They are often attracted to honeydew covered leaves characteristic of infestations of sucking insects such as aphids.
Do syrphid flies pollinate?
Flies are among the most frequent visitors to flowers and important pollinators of a wide range of plants.
What do syrphid flies do?
Syrphid fly adults are not predators, feeding only on pollen, nectar, and aphid honeydew. Larvae, however, are highly effective predators of green apple and spirea aphids, with each larva capable of consuming hundreds of aphids during the course of its development.
What are the flies that hover in one spot?
Hover flies are also called flower flies because they are commonly seen during warmer months hovering among flowers, feeding and mating. They pollinate many plants and help keep aphids under control. They hover in the one spot, move suddenly forwards or sideways, and then hover again.
Why are syrphid flies beneficial?
Syrphid flies, also known as hover flies, are beneficial insects. The adult fly lays its eggs on leaves near aphid colonies. As adults, they are important pollinators feeding on a wide range of flowers. In their larval stage, they prey on aphids.
How do I identify flying insects?
The best way to identify flying insects is by their shape. For example, bees and wasps are small with oval bodies. On the other hand, dragonflies have long colorful bodies, and butterflies and moths have larvae-like bodies and large wings.
Is Diptera a class or order?
dipteran, (order Diptera), any member of an order of insects containing the two-winged or so-called true flies. Although many winged insects are commonly called flies, the name is strictly applicable only to members of Diptera.