Pic: One of the many hoverflies on my balcony

Hoverflies are harmless to most other animals, despite their mimicry of more dangerous wasps and bees, which wards off predators.

the larvae (maggots) eat a wide range of foods. In some species, the larvae are saprotrophs, eating decaying plant and animal matter in the soil or in ponds and streams. In other species, the larvae are insectivores and prey on aphids, thrips, and other plant-sucking insects.

Pic: Hoverfly in park area

Aphids alone cause tens of millions of dollars of damage to crops worldwide every year; because of this, aphid-eating hoverflies are being recognized as important natural enemies of pests, and potential agents for use in biological control. Some adult syrphid flies are important pollinators.

Hoverflies are a cosmopolitan family found in most biomes, except deserts, tundra at extremely high latitudes, and Antarctica. Certain species are more common in certain areas than others.

Pic: I sometimes move the larvae gently to another plant, full of aphids

While some hoverfly larvae are aquatic and are often found in stagnant water, those of species which prey upon aphids and other plant pests are usually terrestrial, residing on leaves.

Hoverflies are important pollinators of flowering plants in a variety of ecosystems worldwide. Syrphid flies are frequent flower visitors to a wide range of wild plants, as well as agricultural crops, and are often considered the second-most important group of pollinators after wild bees.

Pic: Aphids trying to escape the larva, they even let go of a leaf to get away

Many species of hoverfly larvae prey upon pest insects, including aphids and the leafhoppers, which spread some diseases such as curly top. Therefore, they are seen in biocontrol as a natural means of reducing the levels of pests.

Gardeners, therefore, sometimes use companion plants to attract hoverflies. Those reputed to do so include alyssum, Iberis umbellata, statice, buckwheat, chamomile, parsley, and yarrow.

text from

Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Syrphid Fly Larva Catching and Feeding on Aphids (Syrphidae)

EFFICIENT Intercropping for Biological CONTROL of APHIDS in Transplanted Organic Lettuce

Alyssum at my balcony, which is mentioned in the video, EFFICIENT Intercropping for Biological CONTROL of APHIDS.... as good at attracting hoverflies.

Sweet alyssum (Lobularia maritima) I just bought seeds because they were pretty flowers and cheap to, without knowing what came with them - lots of hoverflies.

Glad you never get too old to learn

Lobularia maritima

Lobularia maritima syn. Alyssum maritimum, common name sweet alyssum or sweet alison, also commonly referred to as just alyssum (from the genus Alyssum in which it was formerly classified) is a species of low-growing flowering plant in the family Brassicaceae.