Hover flies (family Syrphidae) of the genus Microdon are unusual among the Diptera.

Like some other hoverflies, they are generally robust and very hairy, often closely resembling bees.

Their appearance originally led scientists to describe them as mollusks and scale insects.

Some species actively feed on ant larvae in the colony,[4] others are speculated to be scavengers.

Because these flies have such cryptic life cycles, biological information on most species is limited.