Alpine Hover Fly vs Giant Wood Hoverfly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Alpine Hover Fly | Giant Wood Hoverfly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Sericomyia silentis | Temnostoma vespiforme |
| Order | Diptera | Diptera |
| Family | Syrphidae | Syrphidae |
| Size | 14-18 mm body length | 14-18 mm |
| Habitat | Meadows | Forests |
| Diet | Nectar Feeders | Wood Feeders |
| Regions | Europe, Northern Asia | Europe |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Alpine Hover Fly
A large hover fly with bold yellow-and-black banding mimicking a wasp. It visits alpine flowers for nectar in mountain meadows.
Did You Know?
Its larvae are rat-tailed maggots that breathe through a snorkel-like siphon in waterlogged soil.
Giant Wood Hoverfly
A large, wasp-mimicking hoverfly with yellow and black banding and a slender waist. Its larvae develop in decaying wood of fallen trees in old-growth forests.
Did You Know?
It is considered an indicator species for ancient woodland due to its dependence on large volumes of decaying timber.