1. A small flying insect that resembles a bee or wasp but is harmless, characterized by its ability to hover in place and its large eyes.
Usage: Also called a flower fly or syrphid fly.; Common in gardens and meadows.

Examples

• The hoverfly hovered motionless above the flower before landing on a petal.
• Gardeners appreciate hoverflies because their larvae feed on aphids.
• I watched a hoverfly dart quickly from bloom to bloom in the garden.
• The hoverfly's resemblance to a bee helps protect it from predators.
• Hoverflies are important pollinators in many ecosystems.
• You can attract hoverflies to your garden by planting nectar-rich flowers.