What do hoverfly eat

Hover flies are also called flower flies because they are commonly seen during warmer months hovering among flowers, feeding and mating. They pollinate many plants and help keep aphids under control. Some hover fly species Eristalis sp lay their eggs in stagnant water. These aquatic larvae have a long thin breathing tube - hence the common name, "rat-tailed maggots".

Another hover fly species Microdon sp has a larval form that scientists originally classified as a mollusc because it looks rather like a small slug. Microdon larvae survive by scavenging in ant nests, mimicking the ants' chemicals in order to escape detection by their hosts. The Australian Museum respects and acknowledges the Gadigal people as the First Peoples and Traditional Custodians of the land and waterways on which the Museum stands. Image credit: gadigal yilimung shield made by Uncle Charles Chicka Madden.

This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. Learn more. Skip to main content Skip to acknowledgement of country Skip to footer Hover fly, definitely from the genus Mesembrius, but there are a few undescribed species in Australia, and it is difficult tell them apart from photos. In Europe, adult hoverflies are known travellers that undergo mass seasonal migrations.

One study suggests that 1 to 4 billion hoverflies migrate over southern Britain every year! In Australia, the ecology and behaviour of hoverflies has not been well studied and is less understood. However, a recent study in which records from the Atlas of Living Australia were analysed, strongly suggested that species of hoverflies occurring in Australia are also migratory, including two of the most common species, Melangyna viridiceps and Simosyrphus grandicornis. Eating pesky aphids is not the only beneficial ecological service offered by hoverflies — they are also increasingly recognised as important crop pollinators!

PestFacts south-eastern keeps growers and advisers informed about invertebrate pests and beneficials in broadacre crops and pastures during the winter-cropping season in Victoria and southern New South Wales. Never miss a beat.

Get articles, advice and more straight in your inbox. More PestFacts articles. Around 6, species of hoverfly in genera have been discovered worldwide. They can be found in most climates except extreme deserts, Antarctica and incredibly high latitudes.

These hoverflies emerge between March and November, in the months of spring, summer and autumn. However, only 40 of these species are commonly seen.

Most adult hoverflies live an average of 12 days, but their life span can vary depending on the species. As regular flower visitors to a wide range of plants and agricultural crops, hoverflies are some of the most important pollinators in many ecosystems. Whilst adult hoverflies feed largely on nectar and pollen, hoverfly larvae feed on the likes of decaying animal matter, thrips and aphids depending on the larvae species. Grow plenty of flowers with small florets such as sweet alyssum and members of the carrot family.

Tolerate small aphid outbreaks in spring to help support a thriving summer population of hoverflies.