4/17/2023 0 Comments Hover bees![]() ![]() Photo courtesy of Patrick Alexander (Creative Commons).įigure 1B. Hover flies come in all sizes, shapes and colors.įigure 1A. The “tails” are actually long siphons used for breathing oxygen from the air while living in pools of stagnant water.įigure 1. Those in the genus Eristalis are detritivores they are referred to as rat-tailed maggots as larvae (Figure 3B) and drone flies as adults (Figure 1C). Some species of hoverflies live in stagnant water or on decaying vegetation and feed on detritus. The pupae of predatory hover flies are usually found adhered to plants. Most are predators of plant-sucking insects like aphids, scales or thrips and can be found on foliage (Figure 3). Hover fly larvae occupy a variety of habitats. However, one thing all hover flies have in common is a spurious wing vein that is open on either end (Figure 2). Some are small and shiny, like the common genus Toxomerus (Figure 1A), while others are robust and hairy like the genus Merodon (Figure 1B), which is a mimic of the bumble bee. There are thousands of species of hover flies worldwide and many in the state of Ohio. Hover flies also have very large eyes relative to their head size. In addition, hover flies lack the long antennae that most bees and wasps have. That is one way to quickly determine whether you are looking at a fly or a bee, for example. Being true flies, hover flies possess only one pair of wings, whereas other flying insects possess two pairs of wings. Hover flies range in size from ¼ to 1¼ inches and are typically patterned in yellow and black, but can also have red, orange or brown markings (Figure 1). Syrphidae are a particularly beneficial insect to have around because many serve as predators as larvae and pollinators as adults! Identification Many people will incorrectly refer to them as “sweat bees,” which do exist and can sting, but hover flies are harmless and fairly easy to distinguish with a bit of practice. Hover flies generally mimic bees and wasps and therefore often cause panic when encountered, but they do not bite or sting. They are called hover flies because of their ability to hover in midair by vibrating their wings very rapidly. The hover flies are a diverse family, ranging widely in size, color and body shape (Figure 1). ![]() The hover flies (Order Diptera, Family Syrphidae) are one group of “good flies” found commonly in Ohio. Many flies are actually considered beneficial because of the pest control or pollination services they provide within farm fields and gardens. Despite having a generally poor reputation, flies are a large and diverse order of insects that includes many beneficial species. ![]()
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