typical hover flies

Syrphinae is a subfamily of hover flies called typical hover flies. There are about 6,000 species of hover flies worldwide, about 300 species in North America north of Mexico, and at least 55 species (CCESR) in Minnesota. They are found in a wide variety of habitats, usually on flowers. Another common name for the family Syrphidae is flower flies. They are often seen hovering. Adults feed on flower nectar and pollen. Larvae prey on aphids.

Some species look very similar to wasps, but they do not bite or sting.

Most Syrphinae are slender and black or brownish-black with yellow markings. On males, the fifth abdominal segment (tergite) is visible. On each side of the exoskeletal plate covering the middle section of the thorax (scutum), in the shoulder (humeral) area just behind the head, there is a small plate (postpronotum). The postpronotum is bare, with no hairs or bristles. Unfortunately, this is not visible without first removing the fly’s head.

Sources

7, 24, 27, 30, 82, 83.