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About Those Funny Little Hoverflies in the yard...

Hoverflies are attracted to weedy borders or mixed garden plantings, especially if infested with aphids. They are most noticeable in the latter half of the growing season when aphid infestations are established. Hoverflies, Syrphid flies, are expert hoverers, able to remain absolutely stationary in midair. In some species, males will hover in certain spots to attract the attention of females. In other species, the males will patrol an area up to 100 yards in circumference, feeding and mating. Little is known of most species’ behavior since only a few species have been studied.

The species in my yard can't quickly identify me as a human. They look me straight in the eye while trying to determine if I'm a possible mate, , , or food. If I speak to them they seem to be surprised and think about it for a moment, then they're off in a flash just like a spurned fighter pilot.

Adult hoverflies feed primarily on nectar, while the larvae feed primarily on aphids. Larvae will also eat small caterpillers, scale, thrips and other small larvae. The larva grabs the aphid and lifts it into the air to suck out the body fluids. GROSS! It might appear that adult hover flies are feeding on aphids, but more likely they are merely laying eggs within a colony. Does this sound like the makings of a horror movie?