Syrphid flies, commonly known as flower or hover flies, resemble bees. The brightly colored adults are black or brown adorned with yellow banded abdomens and body markings. The broad head is about the width of the abdomen or wider and has large eyes with distinct antennae. As flies, they have one pair of wings, while bees have two pairs.
Syrphid fly larvae are maggot-like without true legs and taper towards the head. Coloration is commonly brown, greenish, pink, or whitish, and can differ according to the environment where they feed.
It’s the larvae that are the aggressive predators. Most species are predaceous, with aphids and mealybugs as favorites, while some prey on ants, caterpillars, froghoppers, scales, other insects, or mites. Adults feast on pollen and nectar and their movement from flower to flower makes them an important pollinator.