Transverse Flower Fly Eristalis transversa (Wiedemann, 1830)    
Kingdom Animalia   >   Phylum Arthropoda   >   Class Insecta   >   Order Diptera   >   Family Syrphidae   >   Genus Eristalis   

Status:

This is the most commonly encountered large flower fly (family Syrphidae) in Maryland. Occurs in a wide variety of habitats and on a variety of herbaceous plants during flight season of April to November. Lays eggs in various environments where food sources are plentiful. Some lay their eggs into beetles; after hatching, the larvae then feed on the beetle's eggs (BugGuide).

Description:

Readily identified by the combination of the X-shaped black marking (flattened on the bottom) on the abdomen that is outlined in bright yellow and a scutum with gray and black crosswise stripes. Compare superficially similar Helophilus fasciatus, which has longitudinal dark and light stripes on the scutum.

There are 314 records in the project database.

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Transverse Flower Fly in Dorchester Co., Maryland (10/30/2018). (c) Judy Gallagher, some rights reserved (CC BY). Photo by Judy Gallagher. (MBP list)

Transverse Flower Fly in Prince George's Co., Maryland (4/17/2021). (c) Sergei Drovetski, all rights reserved. Photo by Sergei Drovetski. (MBP list)

Transverse Flower Fly in Worcester Co., Maryland (10/5/2023). (c) Jim Moore (Maryland), some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Jim Moore. (MBP list)

A Transverse Flower Fly in Baltimore Co., Maryland (9/26/2019). Photo by Richard Crook. (MBP list)

A male Transverse Flower Fly in Baltimore Co., Maryland (9/10/2014). Identified by Steve Scholnick. Photo by Frode Jacobsen. (MBP list)

A male Transverse Flower Fly in Calvert Co., Maryland (8/2/2005). Photo by Arlene Ripley. (MBP list)

A Transverse Flower Fly in Dorchester Co., Maryland (9/14/2014). Verified by Kelsey J.R.P. Byers/BugGuide. Photo by Mark Etheridge. (MBP list)

A Transverse Flower Fly in Carroll Co., Maryland (7/22/2018). Photo by Barbara Speckart. (MBP list)

Transverse Flower Fly in Prince George's Co., Maryland (4/17/2021). (c) Sergei Drovetski, all rights reserved. Photo by Sergei Drovetski. (MBP list)

A Transverse Flower Fly in Washington Co., Maryland (9/17/2013). Photo by Richard Orr. (MBP list)

A Transverse Flower Fly in Prince George's Co., Maryland (7/19/2014). Photo by Jesse Christopherson. (MBP list)

A Transverse Flower Fly in Calvert Co., Maryland (6/20/2020). Photo by Ben Springer. (MBP list)

Transverse Flower Fly in Prince George's Co., Maryland (4/17/2021). (c) Sergei Drovetski, all rights reserved. Photo by Sergei Drovetski. (MBP list)

A Transverse Flower Fly in Howard Co., Maryland (8/3/2016). Verified by Ken Wolgemuth/BugGuide. Photo by Barbara Sikorski. (MBP list)

Transverse Flower Fly in Baltimore Co., Maryland (7/9/2020). (c) Frode Jacobsen, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Frode Jacobsen. (MBP list)

Transverse Flower Fly in Baltimore Co., Maryland (8/21/2020). (c) Frode Jacobsen, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Frode Jacobsen. (MBP list)

Transverse Flower Fly in Montgomery Co., Maryland (10/21/2021). (c) Katja Schulz, some rights reserved (CC BY). Photo by Katja Schulz via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

A Transverse Flower Fly in Prince George's Co., Maryland (6/19/2014). Photo by Jesse Christopherson. (MBP list)

A male Transverse Flower Fly in Kent Co., Maryland (6/27/2016). Determined by Bob Biagi/BugGuide. Photo by Shannon Schade. (MBP list)

A male Transverse Flower Fly in Kent Co., Maryland (6/27/2016). Determined by Bob Biagi/BugGuide. Photo by Shannon Schade. (MBP list)

A Transverse Flower Fly in Baltimore Co., Maryland (9/29/2018). Photo by Emily Stanley. (MBP list)

Transverse Flower Fly in Montgomery Co., Maryland (9/14/2022). (c) Lindsay D. Loyd, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Lindsay D. Loyd via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Transverse Flower Fly in Prince George's Co., Maryland (10/31/2021). (c) Sergei Drovetski, all rights reserved. Photo by Sergei Drovetski. (MBP list)

Transverse Flower Fly in Baltimore Co., Maryland (10/1/2020). (c) Frode Jacobsen, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Frode Jacobsen. (MBP list)

A Transverse Flower Fly in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (4/28/2012). Verified by Ken Wolgemuth/BugGuide. Photo by Rod Burley. (MBP list)

Transverse Flower Fly in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (10/5/2017). (c) Judy Gallagher, some rights reserved (CC BY). Photo by Judy Gallagher. (MBP list)

Transverse Flower Fly in Montgomery Co., Maryland (10/10/2018). (c) Elissa Totin, some rights reserved (CC BY). Photo by Elissa Totin via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Transverse Flower Fly in Baltimore Co., Maryland (4/28/2021). (c) Frode Jacobsen, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Frode Jacobsen. (MBP list)

A female Transverse Flower Fly in Prince George's Co., Maryland (6/25/2021). Verified by Ken Wolgemuth/BugGuide. Photo by Barbara Thurlow. (MBP list)

Transverse Flower Fly in Montgomery Co., Maryland (Date obscured). No rights reserved. Photo by jdshide via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

A Transverse Flower Fly in Frederick Co., Maryland (9/24/2013). Photo by Mark Etheridge. (MBP list)

Transverse Flower Fly in Montgomery Co., Maryland (Date obscured). No rights reserved. Photo by jdshide via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

A male Transverse Flower Fly in Baltimore City, Maryland (7/31/2006). Determined by Gerard Pennards/BugGuide. Photo by Thomas Wilson. (MBP list)

A Transverse Flower Fly in Queen Anne's Co., Maryland (8/24/2013). Photo by Jim Brighton. (MBP list)

Transverse Flower Fly in Maryland (Date obscured). (c) Tanya Riseman, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Tanya Riseman via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

A Transverse Flower Fly in Bethesda, Maryland (7/1/2013). Photo by Philip Brody. (MBP list)

A Transverse Flower Fly in St. Mary's Co., Maryland (6/6/2009). Photo by Tyler Bell. (MBP list)

Transverse Flower Fly in Baltimore City, Maryland (10/10/2018). Photo by Pauline Horn. (MBP list)


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