Wikipedia:POTD column/February 2, 2006



The flower-flies or hover-flies are a family of flies (Diptera), scientifically termed the Syrphidae. As their name suggests, they are most often seen around flowers; the adults feed mainly on nectar and pollen, while the larvae (maggots) eat a wide range of foods. Some flower-flies, such as Volucella pellucens, mimic bees or wasps in appearance, both in shape and coloration. It is thought that this mimicry protects hover-flies from falling prey to birds and other insectivores which avoid eating true wasps because of their sting.

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