Platycheirus varipes explained

Platycheirus varipes (the silver sedgesitter, commonly flower fly) is a rare species of syrphid fly observed in Northern Europe: Norway, Sweden, Finland; Greenland; central Asiatic Russia; and in North America from Alaska and Canada south to Colorado, via mountain chains.^{[1] [2]}

Hoverflies can remain nearly motionless in flight. Adult Platycheirus varipes are also known as flower flies for they are commonly found on flowers from which they get both energy-giving nectar and protein rich pollen. Larvae are aphid predators.^{[3] [4]}

Notes and References

1. Book: Speight, M.C.D. 2011. Species accounts of European Syrphidae (Diptera), Glasgow2011 . Dublin . Syrph the Net publications . .
2. Young . Andrew D . 2012 . A revision of the Nearctic species of Platycheirus Lepeletier and Serville (Diptera: Syrphidae) . master of SCIENCE . University of Guelph . 2012-05-09 .
3. Rotheray . G.E. . 1993 . Colour Guide to Hoverfly Larvae (Diptera, Syrphidae) in Britain and Europe . Diperists Digest . 9 . 155 .
4. Book: Skevington, Jeffrey H . 2019 . Field Guide to the Flower Flies of Northeastern North America. . 9780691189406 .