How Long Does a Hoverfly Live? Most species of hoverflies will live no longer than two weeks, and most adults will die within 12 days of emerging from their chrysalis.They are flies — hover flies or syrphid flies — and while their antics can be annoying, they are entirely harmless and in fact are very beneficial. While there may well be other bees and wasps present with similar coloration, hover flies are true flies so they cannot sting.
