




Eristalis tenax
The Common Drone Fly is a friendly insect that looks a lot like a bee but doesn't sting! They love to fly around flowers and help pollinate plants while they sip sweet nectar.
Habitat: Urban areas
The Common Drone Fly has a stout, hairy body with black and yellow or orange stripes, strongly resembling a honey bee. Its head features large, reddish-brown eyes that nearly meet at the top, and it lacks the constricted 'waist' found on actual bees.





Category
InsectsRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
23
Drone flies can beat their wings thousands of times per minute, making their signature buzz!
Even though they look like bees, drone flies are completely harmless and cannot sting at all!
Its larvae are sometimes called 'rat-tailed maggots' because they have a long breathing tube!
Some drone flies can migrate thousands of kilometers, flying across entire continents!
Common Drone Fly has a unique appearance that helps them mimic stinging honey bees, scaring away predators.
Common Drone Fly can hover perfectly still in mid-air because of their powerful, agile wings, helping them drink nectar.
Common Drone Fly larvae live in murky water, filtering out decaying matter that helps clean their aquatic homes.
Adults sip flower nectar for energy, while their larvae munch on decomposing matter in water.
Age differences: Larvae are detritivores, feeding on decaying matter in water; adults are herbivores, feeding on nectar and pollen.
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Taraxacum officinale
Helps transfer pollen between flowers, aiding plant reproduction.
Bellis perennis
Transfers pollen while feeding on nectar, assisting plant growth.

Misumena vatia
Spiders sometimes ambush and prey on these flies from flowers.
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Parus major
Birds can catch and eat drone flies as a food source.
Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur.
Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring.
This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material.
Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.
Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night.
Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment.
This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces.
Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants.
No aliases listed yet.
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Don't worry, drone flies are safe and won't sting you!
The easiest way to identify Common Drone Fly is to use the Snappit nature identifier app.
18-25 mm
10-16 mm
10-30 days
15 km/h
Adults sip flower nectar for energy, while their larvae munch on decomposing matter in water.
Urban areas
Foraging
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May 25, 2026
Sheepscot Historic DistrictPhoto attribution
no rights reserved
License: CC0 1.0 ↗
Image may be shown cropped inside the card frame.
May 25, 2026
Sheepscot Historic DistrictPhoto attribution
no rights reserved
License: CC0 1.0 ↗
Image may be shown cropped inside the card frame.
Dec 6, 2025
Longwood GardensPhoto attribution
(c) Benjamin Burgunder, some rights reserved (CC BY)
License: CC BY 4.0 ↗
Image may be shown cropped inside the card frame.
Oct 25, 2025
Longwood GardensPhoto attribution
(c) Benjamin Burgunder, some rights reserved (CC BY)
License: CC BY 4.0 ↗
Image may be shown cropped inside the card frame.

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Pennsylvania, US
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Iowa, US
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New Jersey, US
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Montana, US
You might spot Western Ponderosa Pine and Great Horned Owl.
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