This flower fly is a little less than 1/2 inch (12 mm) long. It has a long black abdomen with bold yellow bands. The thorax is brown with darker brown streaking. It has very large brown eyes and a bright yellow face. Legs are yellow, wings are clear. The individual is a male. Females have a more pointed tip to the abdomen.
There are 13 known species of Sphaerophoria in North America. They are widespread across the U.S. and Canada. The frequency of occurrence of this syrphid fly in Fontenelle Forest and Neale Woods is not known as it has been seen and photographed only once in late April 2012.
The Sphaerophoria can be easily recognized by the black elongate abdomen with bold yellow bands. The larvae of this fly are predaceous on aphids.
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