If you encounter a black and yellow striped hoverfly, you will be scared. Such specimens form only a small part of this species-rich family. Their coloring is very variable and in many cases the insects mimic the appearance of other creatures.

The hoverfly is an amazing acrobat, often masquerading as a bee or wasp

Table of Contents

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  1. the essentials in brief
  2. Hoverfly in profile
  3. Do hoverflies sting?
  4. Fight hoverfly?
  5. Identify hoverfly
  6. Determine hoverfly
  7. Settle in the garden
  8. frequently asked Questions

    9. the essentials in brief

    • Hoverflies are acrobats whose larvae have a wide range of food. Numerous larvae eat lice and come in handy.
    • Despite their resemblance to wasps and bees, hoverflies are harmless even when exploring human skin. Fighting is not necessary.
    • Hoverflies differ from wasps in that they lack the wasp waist. There are striped or solid colors that often look like wasps, bees or bumblebees. They can be settled in the garden with a rich range of flowers.

    Hoverfly in profile

    Hoverflies have the rare ability to constantly "stand" in the air

    Hoverflies represent a family and are also known as standing or hover flies. They are able to fly constantly in the air and remain in one place even in strong winds. Most species are harmless. But pictures of hoverflies do not suggest this, because many hoverflies look like defensive hymenoptera.

    Hoverfly - English:

    • hoverflies: Flies that float in the air
    • flower tiles: Insects have a preference for yellow flowers
    • syrphid flies: derived from the scientific family name "Syrphidae"

    flight artist

    The hoverfly can be found in almost all habitats in Europe. It flies from April to October. In flight, the insects appear particularly elegant, because they can hover in the air like a hummingbird with about 300 wing beats per second. Hoverflies can fly forwards and backwards at the same speed. If you want to see the insects up close, you need to approach them carefully. Hoverflies often wake up briefly, only to return to the feeding station after a few sightseeing flights.

    Versatile meal plan

    Adult hoverflies only collect nectar and pollen, preferably from yellow flowering plants. Some species, such as the grove hoverfly, do not just need pollen for energy. This food is essential for the development of the gonads, in which sex hormones and germ cells are formed. Their larvae have a wide range of diets, with a larva's preferred diet differing between species.

    way of life food habitat
    Large hover fly robber aphids almost all biotopes
    dung bee decomposer decomposing organic material Septic tanks and septic tanks, mud banks
    Wasp rotwood hoverfly decomposer Leaves, mulm, rotten wood moist, old deciduous and mixed forests
    Skull Hoverfly decomposer feces Forests, semi-arid grasslands, gardens
    Daffodil Hoverfly herbivores flower bulbs gardens, settlements
    resin fly decomposer wood coniferous forests
    bumblebee hoverfly thieves and decomposers waste and dead insects Forest edges, clearings, paths

    Beneficial in the garden habitat

    In spring, many hoverfly larvae are among the first predatory organisms to prey on lice, such as the apple grass aphid. A larva consumes large quantities of aphids before they pupate. A larva eats up to 100 lice per day. Later in the year, the beneficial insects are used to combat spider mites, aphids, blood lice or beetle larvae, which can be dangerous for your plants.

    • Use as beneficial insects in economic fruit cultivation
    • help in the greenhouse and kitchen garden
    • protect ornamental shrubs and herbs in the garden

    The larvae pupate after eight to 14 days. The adult insects fly to flowering plants from which they collect pollen and nectar. Along with bees, they are one of the most important pollinators in nature and ensure a larger harvest in the home garden.

    Can the hoverfly sting?

    Although the hoverfly dresses dangerously, it is completely harmless

    Names like hornet hoverfly or bumblebee hoverfly don't bode well. In the animal kingdom, the name often indicates a behavior or characteristic of the species. In the case of these hoverflies, the names provide information about their striking appearance. The bumblebee hoverfly resembles a bumblebee, while the hornet hoverfly has taken on the frightening appearance of its namesake.

    digression

    mimicry

    In the course of their evolution, hoverflies have adapted to very specific role models. They imitate color patterns and hair forms of other insects that can defend themselves against predators. Many a hoverfly resembles a wasp.

    This signaling effect is the only protection for hoverflies, as they neither have piercing tools nor produce toxic substances. This phenomenon is called mimicry and affects not only potential predators such as birds but sometimes also humans.

    behavior

    Hoverflies are curious and invest a lot of time exploring their habitat. On these tours, they can easily get into crevices in buildings and thus enter apartments. They rarely find their way out again, so they die of thirst at the window pane. Light skin is also liked to be flown over and dabbed. Perfumes and deodorant sprays also confuse the insects, because they make the appearance of a fragrant flower perfect.

    anatomy

    Hoverflies have mouthparts that are modified into licking proboscises. In some species, the front head area is extended like a snout, so that they suck up liquid substances such as nectar and can also bite through pollen. With these sucking and licking mouthparts, hoverflies are unable to sting. You don't have to fear a sting or bite if such an insect explores your skin. The animals are completely harmless.

    Although hoverflies look dangerous, they are completely harmless to humans.

    Fight hoverfly?

    Hoverflies only thrive where food is available

    Every few years it happens that hoverflies reproduce en masse. This is due to mild temperatures in late winter combined with high humidity. First, the vegetation can develop splendidly, which means that aphids find more food. This leads to a mass proliferation of hoverflies, because they benefit from the oversupply of aphids.

    Prevent instead of fight

    Fighting hoverflies is not recommended under any circumstances. Nature automatically keeps the extensive populations in check. Once the large masses of aphids have been consumed, hoverfly populations will automatically decline. If you find the animals annoying, you should take preventive measures:

    • avoid popular food plants
    • Eliminate hibernation quarters and remove withered plant populations in autumn
    • Gently remove aphids
    • Protect greenhouses (72.95€) and conservatories with fly screens

    Avoid using chemicals

    Hoverflies are extremely sensitive to insecticides. The effect is not only direct, in that the insects die, but also indirectly. If the supply of flowers is reduced by spraying or excessive fertilization, hoverflies no longer find sufficient food and die in large numbers.

    released into nature

    If the insects have accumulated in your apartment, you should first open the windows. In this way, the hoverflies can return to nature on their own, where they can pursue their useful tasks. Once a weakened animal has settled down, you can put a screw top jar over it and capture it. Your plants on the balcony and terrace or in the garden will thank you, because the beneficial insects can fight aphid infestation.

    How to recognize a hoverfly

    There are around 500 different species of hoverflies in Europe, which are often not easy to identify. A number of species are reminiscent of wasps, bees, bumblebees or hornets in terms of shape, markings or hair. However, hoverflies can easily be distinguished from these insects.

    youtube
    hoverflies wasps honey bees
    body long and slender or stocky, no conspicuous narrowing, spineless Wasp waist: "stalked" abdomen bright, felt-like hair bandage
    wing a pair of wings two pairs of wings two pairs of wings
    sensor very short clearly visible with black or yellow base clearly visible
    head typical fly eyes kidney-shaped compound eyes, biting mouthparts hairy compound eyes
    flight floating long outstretched legs, likes to be pushy regular trajectories

    Identify types of hoverflies

    The conspicuous hoverflies, which you may have noticed in your own garden or in nature, appear with black and yellow stripes. They are reminiscent of bees, wasps or bumblebees. But the spectrum of colors and drawings goes far beyond this pattern. There are both furry and hairless species. They can appear variegated, two-tone or one-color.

    Striped hoverflies

    The gray broad-footed hoverfly has black and white stripes

    The most conspicuous species fall into this group. Whoever encounters them is deterred by the signal drawing. This applies not only to potential predators but also to humans. A striped hoverfly looks like a wasp to some observers. But on closer inspection, such specimens are clearly recognizable as flies. The drawings of the abdomen are designed variably and can also appear in black and white.

    Hoverflies with black and white markings:

    • White Broadband Hoverfly (Ischyrosyrphus laternarius)
    • Gray broad-footed hoverfly (Platycheirus albimanus)
    • Green broad-bellied hoverfly (Didea alneti)

    Small hoverfly

    The species with the scientific name Syrphus vitripennis has a distribution spectrum that stretches across Europe. It reaches a size between nine and eleven millimeters. The dull colored abdomen with three yellow bands is characteristic, the first of which is interrupted in the middle by a black area. The body size and coloring of the hind legs are sure to distinguish it from the very similar large hoverfly. Three quarters of these are black in the small hoverfly.

    Large hover fly

    It is also known as the common garden hoverfly (Syrphus ribesii). Like the Lesser Hoverfly, this species is found throughout Europe and is not tied to any particular habitat. This hoverfly is not very big. It is between ten and twelve millimeters long.

    It has a flat and black colored forehead with a rusty red area above the antennae. Their wings appear lightly tinted brown and the legs are tinted yellow. Males have half-black colored legs. An important distinguishing feature to the similar hairy hoverfly are the compound eyes, which are hairless in the large hoverfly.

    Drawing:

    • colored black and yellow
    • first yellow band broken in the middle
    • subsequent bands become narrower towards the middle

    Common forest hoverfly

    This species, also known as the common bumblebee hoverfly (Volucella pellucens), flies in Central Europe from May to September. This hover fly is remarkably large, reaching a length of between twelve and 18 millimeters in length. The wine-red colored compound eyes are typical.

    Their abdomen is short and plump looking. This is black in color, with the ivory-colored second abdominal segment creating a striped pattern. In some individuals this bandage is divided into two spots. A dark spot on both wings is conspicuous.

    skull hoverfly

    The skull hoverfly looks very similar to the bee

    The hoverfly is sometimes called the common umbel hoverfly (Myathropa florea) and is one of the species that occurs frequently in Central Europe. Its body, which is twelve to 14 millimeters long, has a yellow and black pattern reminiscent of a skull and crossbones. The wings are subtly tinted brown and the legs are yellow-black.

    Bee, bumblebee or hornet-like hoverflies

    Species that imitate the appearance of stinging Hymenoptera often develop in the nests of their idols. The larvae are not always predatory, but also feed on decomposing materials or dead animals in the nest. To protect themselves from potential predators, adult hoverflies take on the appearance of their brood carers.

    Common daffodil hoverfly

    This comparatively thick hoverfly reaches a body length of between eleven and 14 millimeters and is reminiscent of a bumblebee due to the thick hair on the abdomen. The larvae of the daffodil hoverfly (Merodon equestris) prefer to feed on bulbs of the lily and narcissus family. Since the coloring of the adult insects is variable, the species is not always easy to recognize. There are seven color variants, but they all have typical body characteristics:

    • bright hairy eyes
    • Legs dyed black, thighs with a typical appendage
    • characteristic wings with a strong bulge in the third vein

    tips

    The larvae of this species can eat their fill of your flower bulbs. The hoverfly is more common in gardens and settlements and likes to sunbathe in areas free of vegetation.

    hornet hoverfly

    This giant hoverfly, also known as the large forest hoverfly (Volucella zonaria), is very large compared to Central European hoverflies. Their body is between 16 and 22 millimeters long and is reminiscent of the appearance of a hornet. The species has rust-red compound eyes and yellow antennae.

    Its abdomen is reddish-yellow in color, broken by two black bands. The similarly colored banded hoverfly has three black bands on its abdomen. The hornet hoverfly prefers to be found in southern parts of Central Europe. Their larvae develop in the nests of wasps and hornets.

    dung bee

    The dung bee is actually not a bee at all

    Also known as mud bee or harlequin hoverfly (Eristalis tenax), it is widespread in rural areas. Their offspring are called rat tail larvae because of their distinctive appearance. They live in septic tanks and septic tanks or in the mud around the edges of ponds. Bacteria-rich and oxygen-poor waters are typical habitats. The bee-like insects are found on dunghills.

    Typical characteristics:

    • between 14 and 18 millimeters tall
    • dark colored abdomen with ocher, yellow or reddish spots
    • Drawing may vary
    • easy to catch with hands

    Monochrome hoverflies

    Among the hoverflies there are numerous species that are colored monochromatic black. They appear inconspicuous in contrast to striped hoverflies. The majority of black species belong to the genus Cheilosia, which is the most species-rich genus in this family. But also species of other genera do not stand out with conspicuous markings:

    • Black Eyespot Hoverfly: Black hoverfly with vertical stripes down its back
    • White-Footed Hoverfly: Shiny blue-black with light yellow leg limbs
    • Common Emerald Hoverfly: velvety black abdomen and crimson eyes

    Settle in the garden

    By designing your garden in a natural way and planting the hoverflies' preferred food plants, you offer the beneficial insects a valuable habitat. If necessary, you can order larvae on the Internet and settle them in the garden. But with the right food supply, the insects come automatically.

    Plant offer

    Since hoverflies have a comparatively short proboscis, they are dependent on plants with easily accessible nectar and pollen. Since the insects usually form several generations per year and fly from April to October, they need a varied and permanent range of flowers.

    A combination of early-flowering bulbs and late-flowering species is particularly important. The petals should not be transformed into long tubes. Sal willow, privet or fennel are just as popular forage plants as wild garlic or coltsfoot.

    The ideal hoverfly garden:

    • umbellifers: hogweed, meadow chervil, wild carrot, goutweed
    • Ranunculaceae: Marsh Marigold, Creeping Buttercup
    • rose family: hawthorn, sloe, raspberry

    tips

    Avoid mulching verges and let these corners run their course. Here flower-rich borders automatically develop, in which hoverflies live.

    hibernation quarters

    Shrubs and hedges not only enrich the diet as substitute food, but also serve as an important retreat in winter. For hibernation, they look for sheltered niches and withdraw into hollow stems. Leave wilted and apparently dead perennials over the winter, as the hollow stems shelter wintering creatures.

    frequently asked Questions

    Are there dangerous hoverflies?

    There are known cases where the dung bee has infected humans with fly maggot disease or myiasis. It is not clear how the eggs got into the human digestive tract. However, this phenomenon is a rare exception. The dung bee is not dangerous to humans.

    Are hoverflies harmful?

    Daffodil hoverflies can drive hobby gardeners crazy because their larvae feed on bulbs from various daffodils and lilies. In the worst case, the bulb rots, which is why the species is combated with chemical agents in commercial daffodil cultivation.

    How are hoverflies different from normal flies?

    An important distinguishing feature is a skin fold in the hoverfly's wing called a pseudovein. Bristle hairs are largely absent from these insects. The most striking feature, which is also recognizable for non-biologists, is the hovering flight. In addition, numerous species imitate defensive bees, wasps or bumblebees. This mimicry is refined to perfection in some species. Not only do they look similar to their role models, they also imitate their flight noises.

    How many aphids can hoverflies destroy?

    The larvae can noticeably decimate even a heavy lice infestation. One hoverfly larva eats up to 100 aphids a day, destroying large populations as they develop. If leaves, fruits and shoots are too badly damaged, even the useful pest controller can no longer save the affected plant.

Category:

Animals in the garden