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The flowers produce tiny nectaries sized just right to draw in syrphid flies, ladybeetles, and parasitoid wasps, all of which feed on aphids.—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 15 Apr. 2025 Both the adult lady beetle and its crocodile-shape larvae feed on aphids, as do the larvae of lacewings and syrphid flies.—Rita Perwich, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Apr. 2025 Flower flies, also known as syrphid flies, are one group using such mimicry.—Miri Talabac, Baltimore Sun, 1 June 2023 The insect to me looks like a syrphid fly larvae that is eating aphids.—oregonlive, 11 June 2022
Word History
Etymology
New Latin Syrphidae, from Syrphus, genus of flies, from Greek syrphos gnat
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