The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.
syrphus fly — [sʉr′fəs] 〚ModL Syrphus < Gr syrphos, gnat〛 any of a family (Syrphidae) of dipterous flies, many of which mimic bees or wasps: the adults feed on nectar and pollen, and the larvae of various species feed on plant lice, plants, etc.: also syrphid… … Universalium
syrphus fly — [sʉr′fəs] [ModL Syrphus < Gr syrphos, gnat] any of a family (Syrphidae) of dipterous flies, many of which mimic bees or wasps: the adults feed on nectar and pollen, and the larvae of various species feed on plant lice, plants, etc.: also… … English World dictionary
syrphus fly — ˈsərfəs noun or syrphid fly Etymology: syrphus from New Latin Syrphus genus of dipterous flies, from Greek syrphos gnat : any of numerous active day flying flies that constitute the family Syrphidae, frequent flowers and feed on nectar, vary… … Useful english dictionary
syrphus — noun /səɹfəs/ A fly of the genus Syrphus or the family Syrphidae … Wiktionary
hover fly — noun : a syrphus fly or other fly that hovers in air * * * hover fly, = syrphus fly. (Cf. ↑syrphus fly) … Useful english dictionary
syrphid fly — noun see syrphus fly * * * any of numerous beelike or wasplike flies of the family Syrphidae that feed on the nectar and pollen of flowers and have larvae that feed on decaying vegetation or prey on aphids. Also, syrphus fly /serr feuhs/. Also… … Useful english dictionary
syrphid fly — any of numerous beelike or wasplike flies of the family Syrphidae that feed on the nectar and pollen of flowers and have larvae that feed on decaying vegetation or prey on aphids. Also, syrphus fly /serr feuhs/. Also called flower fly. * * * … Universalium
hover fly — ▪ insect also called flower fly, or syrphid fly, any member of a family that contains about 6,000 species of insects in the fly order, Diptera. Their various common names refer to the behaviour of hovering around flowers. Hover flies,… … Universalium
syr|phus fly — «SUR fuhs», any fly of a family that feed on the nectar of flowers and oen resemble bees or wasps, whose larvae live on decaying matter or plant lice. ╂[< New Latin Syrphus the genus name < Greek sŷrphos gnat, some small insect] … Useful english dictionary
wasp fly — noun 1. : any of various syrphus flies that resemble wasps 2. : thickheaded fly … Useful english dictionary
