Bug FAQBig-headed Lagoon Fly
Eristalinus megacephalus · Order: Diptera · Family: Syrphidae
The big-headed lagoon fly is 8 to 11 mm long and has a large head with golden eyes marked by pale purple spots. It flies from May to October, most commonly in June and July, and is an important pollinator. It occurs in many countries across Africa, Asia, Europe and the Mediterranean region.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Adults measure about 8 to 11 mm in length.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
It feeds on flower nectar and acts as a good pollinator.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
Adults are on the wing from May through October, with peak numbers in June and July.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
The flight period runs from May to October, most abundant in June and July.
Source: Wikipedia
More photos
Questions people ask
What does the big-headed lagoon fly look like?
It is a small fly (8 to 11 mm) with a black thorax, black-tipped legs, transparent wings, a large head and golden eyes dotted with pale purple spots.
Source: Wikipedia
When are they active?
Adults are active from May to October, especially in June and July.
Source: Wikipedia
Where can I find this species?
It occurs in many countries across Africa, Asia, southern Europe and the Mediterranean, such as South Africa, Egypt, India, China and Italy.
Source: Wikipedia
Same family (Syrphidae)
Sources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eristalinus_megacephalus
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-24 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-22.