hornet fly

noun

Any member of the genus Spilomyia of hoverflies (Syrphidae), many with coloring resembling that of hornets, some of which are predators of insect pests, others nectar-feeding pollinators.

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Meanings

nounhornet fly (plural hornet flies)

plural hornet flies

  1. Any member of the genus Spilomyia of hoverflies (Syrphidae), many with coloring resembling that of hornets, some of which are predators of insect pests, others nectar-feeding pollinators.
  2. archaicAny of the genus Asilus and allied genera of large, fierce dipterous robber flies (Asilidae) that often prey on insects larger than themselves to suck their blood, the males of which resemble hornets in coloring.
Cite this entry
APA

hornet fly. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/hornet%20fly

MLA

“hornet fly.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/hornet%20fly. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “hornet fly,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/hornet%20fly.

Source: hornet fly on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.