Narrow-headed Marsh Fly Helophilus fasciatus Walker, 1849    
Kingdom Animalia   >   Phylum Arthropoda   >   Class Insecta   >   Order Diptera   >   Family Syrphidae   >   Genus Helophilus   

Status:

A large flower fly (family Syrphidae) common in many parts of Maryland. It flies mainly from late March to May and September through early November. The bifurcated flight period may be in part related to migration, but research is needed to confirm. Visits a wide variety of flowers. Eggs are laid on vegetation overhanging ponds; larvae hatch and fall into the pond where they develop and breathe through long tubes called "rat tails."

Description:

Can be identified with care from photos. The only other member of the genus recorded by the project as of this writing is the rare H. latifrons. However, other genera are similar (e.g., Parahelophilus).

There are 197 records in the project database.

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A Narrow-headed Marsh Fly in Dorchester Co., Maryland (10/30/2018). Photo by Judy Gallagher. (MBP list)

A Narrow-headed Marsh Fly in Talbot Co., Maryland (9/23/2019). Verified by Ken Wolgemuth and Kelsey J.R.P. Byers via BugGuide. Photo by Jim Moore. (MBP list)

A Narrow-headed Marsh Fly in Montgomery Co., Maryland (9/17/2019). Verified by Bill Dean/BugGuide. Photo by Steve Scholnick. (MBP list)

A Narrow-headed Marsh Fly in Dorchester Co., Maryland (9/22/2017). Determined by Ken Wolgemuth/BugGuide. Photo by Mark Etheridge. (MBP list)

Narrow-headed Marsh Fly in Howard Co., Maryland (10/9/2006). Determined by John F. Carr/BugGuide. Photo by Steve Collins. (MBP list)

A Narrow-headed Marsh Fly in Prince George's Co., Maryland (10/15/2017). Verified by Ken Wolgemuth/BugGuide. Photo by Barbara Thurlow. (MBP list)

A female Narrow-headed Marsh Fly in Baltimore City, Maryland (4/21/2009). Determined by Bill Dean/BugGuide. Photo by Thomas Wilson. (MBP list)

A Narrow-headed Marsh Fly in Worcester Co., Maryland (10/21/2017). Verified by John S. Ascher/BugGuide. Photo by Judy Gallagher. (MBP list)

A Narrow-headed Marsh Fly in Howard Co., Maryland (10/14/2017). Photo by Timothy Reichard. (MBP list)

A Narrow-headed Marsh Fly in Washington Co., Maryland (9/28/2019). Photo by Jim Moore. (MBP list)

Narrow-headed Marsh Fly in Montgomery Co., Maryland (10/8/2014). Photo by Steve Scholnick. (MBP list)

A Narrow-headed Marsh Fly in Baltimore Co., Maryland (9/25/2019). Photo by Wendy R. Fredericks. (MBP list)

Narrow-headed Marsh Fly in Dorchester Co., Maryland (10/4/2019). Photo by Mark Etheridge. (MBP list)

A Narrow-headed Marsh Fly in Howard Co., Maryland (4/3/2020). Determined by Bill Dean/BugGuide. Photo by Sue Muller. (MBP list)

Narrow-headed Marsh Fly in Prince George's Co., Maryland (10/2/2021). (c) Katja Schulz, some rights reserved (CC BY). Photo by Katja Schulz via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Narrow-headed Marsh Fly in Montgomery Co., Maryland (9/18/2014). Photo by Steve Scholnick. (MBP list)

A Narrow-headed Marsh Fly in Dorchester Co., Maryland (10/18/2020). Photo by Jim Brighton. (MBP list)

Narrow-headed Marsh Fly in Baltimore Co., Maryland (4/27/2021). (c) Frode Jacobsen, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Frode Jacobsen. (MBP list)

Narrow-headed Marsh Fly in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (9/27/2020). (c) Nathaniel Schwartz, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-ND). Photo by Nathaniel Schwartz via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

A female Narrow-headed Marsh Fly in Prince George's Co., Maryland (11/2/2017). Verified by Ken Wolgemuth/BugGuide. Photo by Jesse Christopherson. (MBP list)

Narrow-headed Marsh Fly in Prince George's Co., Maryland (9/26/2020). (c) Katja Schulz, some rights reserved (CC BY). Photo by Katja Schulz via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Narrow-headed Marsh Fly in Garrett Co., Maryland (4/3/2020). (c) Randy Bodkins, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Randy Bodkins via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Narrow-headed Marsh Fly in Prince George's Co., Maryland (11/10/2021). (c) swindsor, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by swindsor via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Narrow-headed Marsh Fly in Montgomery Co., Maryland (4/4/2021). (c) Jim Moore (Maryland), some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Jim Moore. (MBP list)

Narrow-headed Marsh Fly in Montgomery Co., Maryland (10/16/2022). (c) Zachary Dankowicz, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Zachary Dankowicz via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Narrow-headed Marsh Fly in Worcester Co., Maryland (10/4/2023). (c) Jim Moore (Maryland), some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Jim Moore. (MBP list)

A Narrow-headed Marsh Fly in Frederick Co., Maryland (10/7/2017). Verified by Kelsey J.R.P. Byers and Bill Dean via BugGuide. Photo by Jim Moore. (MBP list)

Narrow-headed Marsh Fly in Prince George's Co., Maryland (10/10/2020). (c) Katja Schulz, some rights reserved (CC BY). Photo by Katja Schulz via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Narrow-headed Marsh Fly in Worcester Co., Maryland (10/8/2023). (c) Jim Brighton, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Jim Brighton. (MBP list)

A male Narrow-headed Marsh Fly in Baltimore City, Maryland (10/6/2008). Determined by John F. Carr/BugGuide. Photo by Thomas Wilson. (MBP list)

A Narrow-headed Marsh Fly in Baltimore City, Maryland (10/14/2020). Verified by Bill Dean and Ken Wolgemuth via BugGuide. Photo by Pauline Horn. (MBP list)

A Narrow-headed Marsh Fly in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (10/18/2017). Photo by Tyler Bell. (MBP list)

Narrow-headed Marsh Fly in Baltimore Co., Maryland (10/4/2021). (c) Matthew Beziat, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Matthew Beziat. (MBP list)

Narrow-headed Marsh Fly in Frederick Co., Maryland (10/3/2019). (c) botanygirl, some rights reserved (CC BY). Photo by botanygirl via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

A female Narrow-headed Marsh Fly in Baltimore Co., Maryland (4/8/2017). Determined by Ken Wolgemuth and Bill Dean via BugGuide. Photo by Emily Stanley. (MBP list)

A Narrow-headed Marsh Fly in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (4/12/2016). Photo by Matthew Beziat. (MBP list)

A male mNarrow-headed Marsh Fly species in Kent Co., Maryland (9/30/2018). Determined by Bill Dean/BugGuide. Photo by Jim Moore. (MBP list)


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