PICKAWAY COUNTY — If you’ve spent time at Hargus Lake, Deer Creek, Slate Run, Ted Lewis Park, or even in your own backyard lately, you may have noticed small, bee-like insects that just won’t leave you alone. You shoo them away, but they come right back — and while they may look intimidating, they’re harmless.
Known by several nicknames — corn fly, hover fly, helicopter fly, flower fly, or sweat bee — these persistent visitors are actually flies, not bees. They can’t sting or bite, but their darting, hovering, and leaf-landing habits often make people uneasy. Females lay eggs on leaves infested with aphids, and the adults feed on nectar for energy.
Despite their nuisance factor, hoverflies are beneficial to the environment. They’re natural pest controllers, feeding on aphids, and they help pollinate flowers. Gardeners often encourage their presence with companion plants like parsley and chamomile.
Experts say hoverflies are attracted to people for the moisture from sweat and the salt on skin. They typically remain in farmland, but during late summer and harvest season, they’re driven toward homes and parks — increasing encounters with residents.
So, while they may pester you during your picnic, remember — these “bees” are helping keep gardens healthy and the ecosystem in balance.
