← Back

Hoverfly

Simosyrphus grandicornis

Classification

Class
Insecta
Order
Diptera
Family
Syrphidae

Hoverflies or hover flies, also called flower flies or syrphids, make up the insect family Syrphidae. As their common name suggests, they are often seen hovering, maintaining a spot in the air as part of their display behavior; the adults of many species feed mainly on nectar and pollen, while the larvae (maggots) eat a wide range of foods. In some species, the larvae are saprotrophs, specifically detritivores, eating decaying plant and animal matter in the soil or in ponds and streams.

Distribution

(c) Steve Kerr, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Steve Kerr · CC-BY
Loading map…
Countries in the Picchu catalog
United States of America · 12France · 3