Insect · GBIF taxon 1537266
Common Flower Fly
Syrphus ribesiiAlso known as Common Hoverfly, Transatlantic Flower Fly
Common flower flies are masterful aerial acrobats that can hover motionless in midair before darting away in the blink of an eye. Their bright yellow and black stripes mimic stinging wasps, granting them protection from predators while they peacefully sip nectar and pollen. Females deposit their eggs near aphid colonies, where the legless larvae act as voracious biocontrol agents by consuming hundreds of agricultural pests.
PollinatorHoveringWasp Mimic
1 / 7—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Aphids
- Nectar
- Pollen
Predators
- Spiders
- Insectivorous Birds
- Predatory Insects
ThreatsBroad-spectrum pesticide use and loss of flowering field margins.
HabitatsGardens, meadows, hedge rows, forest edges, and agricultural fields.
Life span2–4 weeks as adults; 1 year full life cycle.
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilySyrphidae
- SpeciesSyrphus ribesii
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Observation: Watch for them hovering motionless over sunlit flowers before landing.
- Garden Utility: Plant open-faced flowers like alyssum to attract egg-laying females for natural pest control.
Mimicry Target Andreas Trepte / CC BY-SA 2.5 · cc-by-sa
Close Relative (c) Michael Knapp, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Michael Knapp · cc-by
Family Member no rights reserved, uploaded by tikitu · cc0
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