Transverse Flower Fly

Description:

Transverse Flower flies are large syrphid flies, nearly 1/2 inch long. They are honey bee mimics which helps protect them from being eaten by predators, yet there are other organisms which are predators of this species. Certain species of wasps specialize in hunting the larvae while the larvae are busy feeding on aphids and some birds are able to distinguish between real bees and their imitators. These are beneficial flies; Adults are light to medium pollinators and the larvae are predators of aphids and other small soft bodied insects. Adults have a unique adaptation that allows them to actually digest pollen and use its proteins in their own body, something not many insects or animals are capable of due to the exterior of a pollen particle which is very resistant to digestive enzymes.

Habitat:

Eastern North America. Areas of flowering plants & particularly flowering plants with aphid populations.