''Eupeodes volucris'', the large-tailed aphideater or bird hover fly, is a

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of Taxonomy (biology), classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of ...

hover fly Hover flies, also called flower flies or syrphid flies, make up the insect family Syrphidae. As their common name suggests, they are often seen hovering or nectaring at flowers; the adults of many species feed mainly on nectar and pollen, while ...

in the

family Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Idea ...

Syrphidae. As its "aphideater" name implies,

larvae A larva (; plural larvae ) is a distinct juvenile form many animals undergo before metamorphosis into adults. Animals with indirect development such as insects, amphibians, or cnidarians typically have a larval phase of their life cycle. T ...

prey on plant-sucking insects, primarily

aphids Aphids are small sap-sucking insects and members of the superfamily Aphidoidea. Common names include greenfly and blackfly, although individuals within a species can vary widely in color. The group includes the fluffy white woolly aphids. A t ...

. The "hover" part of the family name derives from the fact that adults often

hover Hover may refer to: * Levitation, the process by which an object or person is suspended by a physical force against gravitation without solid physical contact Computing *Hover (domain registrar) *''Mouse hover'' or mouseover, a gesture made with ...

over the plants they visit. , Eupeodes_volucris-female_hovering.jpg, Female hovering Eupeodes volucris female face

References

External links

* Syrphini Articles created by Qbugbot Insects described in 1877 Taxa named by Carl Robert Osten-Sacken {{syrphidae-stub