ExploreInsects

Common Drone Fly

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

Appearance

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.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumArthropodaClassInsectaOrderDipteraFamilySyrphidaeGenusEristalis
Common Drone Fly
furry trait badgesocial trait badgeherbivorous trait badgepollinator_magnet trait badge
Common Drone Fly

Category

Insects

Rarity

Common

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Snaps

Be the first to snap!

Interesting facts

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!

Special abilities

Ability

Bee Impersonator

Common Drone Fly has a unique appearance that helps them mimic stinging honey bees, scaring away predators.

Ability

Hover Master

Common Drone Fly can hover perfectly still in mid-air because of their powerful, agile wings, helping them drink nectar.

Ability

Water Cleaner

Common Drone Fly larvae live in murky water, filtering out decaying matter that helps clean their aquatic homes.

Measurements & details

Wingspan
18-25 mm
Size
10-16 mm
Lifespan
10-30 days
Flight Speed
15 km/h
Leg Count
6

Diet & Feeding

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.

Primary Foods

  • Nectar
  • Pollen
  • Honeydew
  • Decaying organic matter
  • Microorganisms

Foraging Method

  • Foraging

Ecological connections

Traits

Also known as

No aliases listed yet.

Collections

Safety

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Don't worry, drone flies are safe and won't sting you!

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Common Drone Fly's wingspan?

18-25 mm

How big is Common Drone Fly?

10-16 mm

How long does Common Drone Fly live?

10-30 days

How fast can Common Drone Fly fly?

15 km/h

What does Common Drone Fly eat?

Adults sip flower nectar for energy, while their larvae munch on decomposing matter in water.

Where is Common Drone Fly usually found?

Urban areas

How does Common Drone Fly hunt?

Foraging

How many legs does Common Drone Fly have?

6

Snap Map

Zoom in to split clusters and explore where this object has been snapped.

Loading map…

Recent Snaps

Recent snaps will appear here as new observations are added.

Where to spot

More Insects