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Hoverfly

Insects

Hoverflies are flies of the family Syrphidae, named for their skilled ability to hover motionless in midair, and many species mimic the yellow-and-black coloring of bees and wasps for protection despite being completely harmless and stingless. Adults feed on nectar and pollen and are important pollinators of many wild and crop plants, while the larvae of numerous species are voracious predators of aphids, making the family valuable for natural pest control in gardens and agriculture.

Facts
Classification
Diet
Herbivore 1
Diet
Insectivore 1
Diet
Detritivore or Scavenger 1
System (Realm)
Terrestrial 2
System (Realm)
Freshwater 2
Relationship to People
Pollinator 1
Living or Extinct
Yes 3
Connections

Child Taxon Of

Diptera, Taxa
Source Wikidata: Hoverfly
Sources
1. Wikidata: Hoverfly
  • Wikidata Q217905, class allow-list match (w-wdresolver-0926)
  • Wikipedia 'Hoverfly': adults of many species feed mainly on nectar and pollen
  • Wikipedia 'Hoverfly': in some species, the larvae are saprotrophs, specifically detritivores
  • Wikipedia 'Hoverfly': in other species, the larvae are insectivores, preying on aphids, thrips, and other plant-sucking insects
  • Wikipedia 'Hoverfly': the adults are pollinators
  • Child Taxon Of: Diptera, Wikidata parent-taxon (P171) chain
View the Source
2. GBIF Species API
GBIF Species APIView the Source
3. Wikidata (taxon extant/extinct status)
Wikimedia Foundation / Wikidata contributorsQ217905, descriptionView the Source
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