Hover-flies are small- to medium-sized flies many of which resemble bees in appearance and behaviour. This mimicry provides hover-flies with some measure of protection against predators such as spiders and birds.
A hover-fly has long proboscis as can be seen in these photos. They are true flies (Diptera) with only one pair of wings.
Adults generally feed on nectar, pollen and the honey dew produced by aphids. Their young feed on small insects, e.g. aphids and caterpillars.
Hover-flies also play an important role in pollinating flowers.
I regularly see hover-flies in our garden and just hope that they would soon reduce the number of aphids on the flowers of my Kalanchoe plant!
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