Tuesday, October 30, 2012

American Hover Fly

Yesterday, an American Hover Fly (Metasyrphus americanus) came into our office at the Audubon Center at Francis Beidler Forest.


The American Hover Fly is a very good wasp mimic (note only one pair of wings versus a wasp's two pairs).  If you doubt this is true, watch the histrionics of anyone along the boardwalk or picnic area when one of these insects makes its noisy appearance.  It's only a fly, but you would have an impossible time convincing anyone of that fact.

You can learn more about hover flies (specifically, in Europe) here.  In the meantime, you need to worry about something other than these aphid-eaters.

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