This orange fly is approximately 1/2 inch (13 mm) in length. The eyes are large and red. The thorax is shiny green/black. The pale orange abdomen is long and slender with black bands. The legs are mostly pale orange in color. The wings are held over the abdomen when at rest. This fly was identified by volunteer experts on the BugGuide website.
The frequency of occurrence is not known. The individuals shown here were photographed in Fontenelle Forest in early May.
There are 73 species in the genus Platycheirus in North America and more than 200 species worldwide. Most species are found in cold climates. Many stay active during cold and rainy weather and some authors suggest that lower temperatures are optimal for this genus. Many members of this genus feed on pollen of grasses or related plants that are wind pollinated. The larvae are often predators of aphids.
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