Invertebrates
Drone Fly
Eristalis tenax
On an autumn ivy flower, a drone fly feeds beside the bees it imitates, a harmless fly dressed as a honeybee drone.
Overview
The drone fly, Eristalis tenax, is a honeybee-mimicking hoverfly found across Europe, Asia, Africa, and North America. Its bee disguise, rat-tailed maggot, and role as a pollinator make it one of the best-known hoverflies in the garden.
A fly in a bee’s clothes
The drone fly’s resemblance to a honeybee drone deters predators that fear a sting, even though the fly has none.
Status
Not Evaluated, but abundant and widespread.
Drone Fly: common questions
Is the drone fly a bee?
No, it is a hoverfly, a true fly with one pair of wings, big eyes, and no sting, although it looks like a honeybee drone.
What is a rat-tailed maggot?
It is the larva of the drone fly, with a long, telescopic breathing tube at its rear, which lets it live in stagnant pools and manure.
Is the drone fly useful?
Yes, it visits many flowers and is an important pollinator of crops and wild plants.
Where is the drone fly found?
It lives in gardens, farmland, and wetlands across Europe, Asia, Africa, and North America.