Syrphid Flies

Insect

Adult flies are 6-13 mm long, have yellow and black abdominal stripes and resemble honeybees, but are smaller and are not hairy. They can hover when they fly. Eggs are white, oval, 1-2 mm in length, laid individually and lie flat on the underside of leaves near aphid colonies. Larvae are 4-8 mm long, pale yellow, translucent, and legless. They feed by piercing aphids with mouthparts and sucking aphid body fluids. Larvae can consume up to 100 aphids per day. Pupation occurs on host plants. Adults are pollinators and feed on pollen, nectar and honeydew from aphid colonies.

Role

Biological control of aphids by syrphid larvae. Pollination by syrphid adults.