Syrphid or Flower Flies

Family Syrphidae

Metasyrphus americanus. Photo:Stephanie Boucher

Adults often hover near flowers. The larvae have a wide range of habitats and foods; most are predators of aphids and other insects, some are scavengers and live in soil, decaying plant matter or in polluted water, some are parasites and live in ant or bee nests and a few are phytophagous (plant-eating) and feed on plant tissues. Syrphidae are small to large flies that are very slender to robust. Most are brightly coloured and many look like bees or wasps, but syrphids do not sting. They have large eyes that cover almost the entire head.