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Photographer: deadmanswill
Insect Scout: deadmanswill
Location: Miryalaguda, AP, India
Species Identifier(s): pford1854, wallaby1 (http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/906701/)
Points to appreciate:
- Observe its thicker and stronger hindlegs. This is the reason this insect is also called Thick-legged Hoverfly.
- Also observe the yellow and black stripes on its body. This insect mimics the appearance of bees and wasps to deceive predators.
Wikipedia Notes:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syrphid_fly
- Syritta pipiens is a very common species of European hover fly. Sometimes called the Thick-legged Hoverfly, from its distinctive broad hind femora.
- As their common names suggest, they are often seen hovering or nectaring at flowers; the adults of many species feed mainly on nectar and pollen, while the larvae (maggots) eat a wide range of foods.
- Because aphids cause tens of millions of dollars of damage to crops worldwide every year, aphid-feeding hoverflies are being recognized as important natural enemies of pests, and potential agents for use in biological control.
- Some adult syrphid flies are important pollinators.
- About 6,000 species in 200 genera have been described.
- Hoverflies are common throughout the world and can be found on every continent except Antarctica.
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