Hoverfly Larva
Syrphidae sp.
OrderDiptera
FamilySyrphidae
HabitatLeaves and stems with aphid colonies
SeasonSpring through fall
LocationPalo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park, Brownsville,, Cameron County, Texas
SizeAbout 0.3-0.5 in
DietAphids
ConservationNot evaluated - common and widespread
CameraNikon Z9Lens800mmAperturef/8Shutter1/2500ISO220
Hoverfly Larva during a fall visit to Palo Alto Battlefield.
About the Hoverfly Larva
A hoverfly larva looks like a tiny green slug, and it has no legs and no eyes. It is one of the garden's best aphid hunters, gliding over leaves and lifting aphids off the plant one after another.
The adults are the flower flies that hover in place over blossoms. Many of them are striped black and yellow to look like bees or wasps, but they cannot sting. The adults pollinate flowers while their larvae protect plants from aphids, so the whole family is good for gardens.
This larva was photographed on September 23, 2025, at Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park near Brownsville.
Want to see a Hoverfly Larva in the wild?
Join one of my guided birding tours! Fine art prints of my photos are also available.
Join one of my guided birding tours! Fine art prints of my photos are also available.
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