Hello, my name is Saphy. I’m a hoverfly. I’m also known as a flower fly or syrphid fly. Being a hoverfly is really interesting and a lot more difficult than some people might think. When I was born, I was blind! I looked like a little green caterpillar and I had to crawl around to look for aphids to eat. My mouth worked differently back then, so I had to drink the inside of the aphids; like a tiny milkshake. Not all of us eat aphids, though! Some of my cousins fed off roots and plant material. Others even live in ant colonies. I’m not quite sure what they eat, but the ants don’t seem to mind!
Now that I’ve grown, I’m a vegetarian! Now that I’m an adult fly, I eat mostly pollen and nectar. My only job is help plants grow and prosper. But don’t think it’s easier for me now! Even with my bright bee-like coloration, some birds and wasps can tell I’m harmless. Solitary wasps will attack me and some even go after larvae! The poor things. There’s even the spotted flycatcher, a type of bird, can tell the difference. They won’t go after bees, but they’ll go after me if they have the chance. And of course, I always have to look out for spiders.
I’m perfectly healthy now, though. I race and hover all over gardens. I zoom around oregano, garlic chives, and other smelly edible plants in hopes to find a mate! I can’t wait to make up to a hundred little eggs and start the process all over again. Wish me luck!
by Matthew
Sustainable Ag. Student
5/17/18
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Works Cited
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/beneficial/hover-flies-in-gardens.htm
https://www.britannica.com/animal/hover-fly
http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/mag/indexmag.html?http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/mag/artmay07/cd-hoverflies.html
Now that I’ve grown, I’m a vegetarian! Now that I’m an adult fly, I eat mostly pollen and nectar. My only job is help plants grow and prosper. But don’t think it’s easier for me now! Even with my bright bee-like coloration, some birds and wasps can tell I’m harmless. Solitary wasps will attack me and some even go after larvae! The poor things. There’s even the spotted flycatcher, a type of bird, can tell the difference. They won’t go after bees, but they’ll go after me if they have the chance. And of course, I always have to look out for spiders.
I’m perfectly healthy now, though. I race and hover all over gardens. I zoom around oregano, garlic chives, and other smelly edible plants in hopes to find a mate! I can’t wait to make up to a hundred little eggs and start the process all over again. Wish me luck!
by Matthew
Sustainable Ag. Student
5/17/18
-------------------------
Works Cited
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/beneficial/hover-flies-in-gardens.htm
https://www.britannica.com/animal/hover-fly
http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/mag/indexmag.html?http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/mag/artmay07/cd-hoverflies.html