Yellow Dance Fly vs American Hoverfly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Yellow Dance Fly American Hoverfly
Scientific Name Empis stercorea Eupeodes americanus
Order Diptera Diptera
Family Empididae Syrphidae
Size 6-8 mm 8-11 mm
Habitat Hedgerows Farmland
Diet Predators Predators
Regions Europe North America
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Yellow Dance Fly

A medium-sized dance fly with a yellowish body commonly found on spring flowers. Males present prey items as mating gifts. An important pollinator of spring flowers.

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Did You Know?

Important early-season pollinators that visit spring flowers while also hunting small insects on them.

American Hoverfly

A widespread North American hoverfly with yellow and black markings. Larvae are voracious aphid predators in crop fields.

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Did You Know?

A single larva can consume several hundred aphids before pupating.