Toxomerus geminatus

Common to abundant

April to November

¼″ to 5 ⁄16″ long

This is a small syrphid fly.

The compound eyes are reddish-brown. The back of the head is white. On the male the face is white and the compound eyes meet near the top of the face. On the female the eyes do not meet and there is a dark, broad, vertical stripe on the white face extending from between the eyes to the antennae. The antennae are yellow and short.

The large, middle section of the thorax (mesonotum) is covered by a shield-shaped exosceletal plate. The large, forward portion of the shield (scutum) is blackish-brown with faint, yellowish-brown, longitudinal stripes. It is hairless. The smaller, rearward part of the shield (scutellum) is similarly colored but has yellow hairs. The shield has a well-defined yellow margin.

The abdomen is yellow with black stripes.The tip of the abdomen is rounded in males, pointed in females.

The wings are clear.

Wasps (Hymenoptera) have relatively long antennae.

Aphids, scales, thrips, and caterpilars of both butterflies and moths

Pollen, nectar, and honeydew.

Adults can often be seen hovering over plants, a favorite activity that gives this family one of it’s common names.

The coloration of the syrphid fly is an example of Batesian mimicry, resembling the warning coloration of stinging bees and wasps. Syrphid flies do not bite or sting.

Sryphid flies are considered beneficial because they prey on insects that attack ornamental plants and crops.