Syrphid, Hover-fly
Hover-flies do not sting and 7 other facts
It is not always easy to tell the difference between a hover-fly (flower fly) and a bee or wasp. There are so many different species of hover-fly and this variety of shapes and sizes adds to the confusion.
I am by no means an expert on these insects but here are a few things I do know about these fascinating creatures.
1. They do NOT sting
2. They are actually classed as flies, rather than wasps or bees.
3. Many of their larvae feed on annoying bugs like aphids, thus helping the gardener with pest control
4. The larvae form a sort of transparent chrysalis where they change into the adult hover-fly. Syrphid Fly Larva
5. Hover-flies only have one pair of wings, Bees and Wasps have two
6. Adult Hover-flies feed on nectar
7. They pollinate some types of crops and certain tree species
8. They mimic wasps and bees to deter predators from eating them
