After feeding for two to three weeks, consuming up to 400 aphids, the larvae pupate either on the foliage or in the soil. The pupa is enclosed in a hardened, teardrop-shaped casing that is the hardened skin of the last larval stage. During the growing season, adult hover flies emerge from the casing in one to two weeks. Otherwise, hoverflies overwinter as pupae. There may be five to seven generations each season, depending on temperature and availability of food.
Syrphid flies are expert hoverers, able to remain absolutely stationary in midair.
In some species, males will hover in certain spots to attract the attention of females. In other species, the males will patrol an area up to 100 yards in circumference, feeding and mating. Little is known of most species behavior since only a few species have been studied. Larvae will also eat small caterpillers, scale, thrips and other small larvae such as corn borer and corn earworm. The larva grabs the aphid and lifts it into the air to suck out the body fluids.