252 



NATURE STUDY AND LIFE 



Fig. 105. A Syrphus Fly 

 (Enlarged about one-half) 



their gorgeous colors. Some appear to be always on the 

 wing, while others may be seen resting lightly on flowers, 

 especially of Helianthus, golden-rod, and asters in the early 



autumn. The fact that renders 

 a study of this family important 

 is that the maggots, or larvae, 

 of many of them feed upon plant 

 lice and other small, soft-bodied 

 insects. In collecting plant lice, 

 especially such as cause great 

 deformity of the leaves, as in 

 case of the currant, elm, and 

 snowball, keep a sharp lookout for slender maggots within 

 the gall-like cavities, and do not mistake them for the 

 insects that do the harm. Preserve them in the vivarium, 

 supply with aphids, and watch them as they transform, 

 first into hardened pupa cases, and finally into adult 

 syrphus flies. 



The syrphus flies whose larvae are not predaceous feed 

 on wet, decaying wood, manure, and 

 mud, or live in filthy water. Their 

 larvae are the curious ''rat-tailed 

 mao^crots" that the children are sure 

 to bring in with the question : What 

 is that } Keep the larvae with appro- 

 priate food and surroundings, and they 

 will soon answer the question them- 

 selves. More than three hundred different species of 

 syrphus flies have been described in the books. Many 

 of them mimic other insects, especially bees, wasps, and 

 bumblebees. 



Fig. 106. Rat-Tailed 



Maggot of Aquatic 



Syrphus Fly 



(After Riley) 



