Syrphid fly adult and larva

.Sryphid Fly Adult

.Sryphid Fly Larva

© 2000. Ralph E. Berry, Department of Entomology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR.
Only the larval stage of syrphid flies, Syrphus spp. (Diptera: Syrphidae), are predators on soft-bodied insects, particularly aphids. Adults are 10 to 12 mm long and feed on pollen, nectar, or aphid honeydew. Adults also are called hover flies or flower flies. Larvae are about 12 mm long, wrinkled or slug-like, and tapered to a point anteriorly. Larvae are usually brown or green with whitish markings. A life cycle from egg to adult takes 16 to 28 days and there are three to seven overlapping generations each year. As many as 400 aphids may be consumed by one larva during its developmental period.

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