The Great Pretender

The Eastern Calligrapher Hover Fly

Toxomerus geminatus

June 20, 2026

The fascinating life of the hover fly, also known as a flower fly is an imitator of the bee. This insect is classified as a true fly (Diptera) but unlike bees, it only has two wings. It can also be identified by its large eyes that are closely set together, and a shorter, stubbier antennae.

A hover fly (family Syrphidae) is much older on the evolutionary scale than bees, though it has evolved to mimic the protective benefits of bees with its yellow and black stripes. Some even have a false stinger, but they do not sting. In nature, this phenomenon is called mimicry. It's when one species evolves to resemble another species. In this case, the hoverfly has adopted the features and traits of bees to avoid predation from other species.

Hover flies are quite varied, ranging in size from 2mm to 25mm. In Ontario there are over 500 species and while their numbers in a garden may be more abundant than bees, they still rank second to bees in their efficiency as a pollinator. Bees rank considerably higher in most part due to having to collect nectar and pollen to sustain a colony. This forces them to make multiple visits back and forth to flowers each day. Hover flies on the other hand only have to support themselves. They are a solitary insect that does not form or feed a colony.

In addition to hover flies being good pollinators, they also provide other ecosystem benefits; primarily feeding on aphids. They actually consume more aphids than ladybugs. Female hover flies will lay an egg or a batch of eggs within an aphid colony which gives their young an immediate food source. They will consume up to 400 aphids in their development. 

This beautiful Eastern Calligrapher is quite tiny - shown here, it is sitting amongst the delicate florets of the narrow leaf plantain. To see a hover fly (if you can spot one), is to witness one of the great pretenders. It's also a sure sign that your garden is an ecosystem and it is definitely a good pollinator to have if you are growing food.