1. Plural of hoverfly; small flies of the family Syrphidae that can hover in place and are often mistaken for bees or wasps due to their striped appearance.
Usage: Also called flower flies or syrphid flies.; Common in gardens and meadows.; Beneficial insects that feed on aphids and other pests.

Examples

• Hoverflies are important pollinators in many gardens.
• The yellow and black stripes on hoverflies make them resemble bees.
• Gardeners appreciate hoverflies because they eat aphids and other harmful insects.
• You can often see hoverflies hovering near flowers on sunny days.
• Unlike bees, hoverflies have only two wings instead of four.
• Hoverflies are harmless to humans and do not sting.