Flower Fly (Toxomerus politus)

Detailing the physical features, habits, territorial reach and other identifying qualities of the Flower Fly.

Updated: 5/23/2018; Authored By Staff Writer; Content ©www.InsectIdentification.org

Flower Fly

Flower Flies are excellent bee mimics, able to hover over flowers and people, but despite the warning colors, they are completely harmless.

Flower Flies are excellent pollinators. They visit flowers to eat pollen, and like other insects including bees, they pick up pollen grains on their bodies and transfer them to other blossoms. Flower Flies in the Toxomerus genus appear to have a flat abdomen that is able to bend at almost awkward angles. They do not sting and are harmless to people. This particular species can be found on, or near, corn and sorghum plants as well as garden flowers.

Basic Information

Common Name: Flower Fly

Other Name(s): Hover Fly

Scientific Name: Toxomerus politus

Category: Fly or Mosquito

General Identification

Size (Adult; Length): 7mm to 9mm (0.27in to 0.35in)

Identifying Colors: yellow, black, red

Additional Descriptors: hover, float, bee, wasp, flying, pollinator, helpful, harmless

Taxonomic Hierarchy

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Arthropoda

Class: Insecta

Order: Diptera

Family: Syrphidae

Genus: Toxomerus

Species: politus

Territorial Reach (A-to-Z)

Note: An insect's reach is not limited by lines drawn on a map and therefore species may appear in areas, regions and/or states beyond those listed below as they are driven by environmental factors (such as climate change), available food supplies and mating patterns. Grayed-out selections below indicate that the subject in question has not been reported in that particular territory. U.S. states and Canadian provinces / territories are clickable to their respective bug listings.

Newfoundland and Labrador

Mexico

Territorial Area Map (Visual Reference Guide)

The map below showcases (in red) the states and territories of North America where the Flower Fly may be found (but is not limited to). This sort of data can be useful in seeing concentrations of a particular species over the continent as well as revealing possible migratory patterns over a species' given lifespan. Some species are naturally confined by environment, weather, mating habits, food resources and the like while others see widespread expansion across most, or all, of North America.

Alaska

Hawaii

Prince Edward Is.

Canadian territory of British Columbia graphic

Canadian territory of New Brunswick graphic

Canadian territory of Newfoundland and Labrador graphic

Canadian territory of Saskatchewan graphic

Territory map graphic of the country of Mexico

Contiguous United States shape map layer graphic

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