# 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. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 23 - **Habitat:** Urban areas ![Common Drone Fly](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Eristalis_November_2007-2.jpg&width=800) Photo: Alvesgaspar, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Eristalis_November_2007-2.jpg) ## 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. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Diptera - **Family:** Syrphidae - **Genus:** Eristalis ## 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 - **Bee Impersonator:** Common Drone Fly has a unique appearance that helps them mimic stinging honey bees, scaring away predators. - **Hover Master:** Common Drone Fly can hover perfectly still in mid-air because of their powerful, agile wings, helping them drink nectar. - **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 - **Pollinates:** [Dandelion](https://www.snappit.app/explore/dandelion) (*Taraxacum officinale*) — Helps transfer pollen between flowers, aiding plant reproduction. - **Pollinates:** Common Daisy (*Bellis perennis*) — Transfers pollen while feeding on nectar, assisting plant growth. - **Eaten by:** [Crab Spider](https://www.snappit.app/explore/crab-spider) (*Misumena vatia*) — Spiders sometimes ambush and prey on these flies from flowers. - **Eaten by:** [Great Tit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-tit) (*Parus major*) — Birds can catch and eat drone flies as a food source. ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. - [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. ## Collections - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Don't worry, drone flies are safe and won't sting you! ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Common Drone Fly? Look for six legs, antennae, three body sections and the shape of the wings. Beetles have hardened front wings; flies have just one working pair. Tiny insects may need a close view before their group is clear. Insect Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### 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 ## Where to spot - [Abbott Farm Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/abbott-farm-historic-district) — New Jersey, US · Historic District - [Bloedel Reserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bloedel-reserve) — Washington, US · Botanical Garden - [Central Park West Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/central-park-west-historic-district) — New York, US · Historic District - [Chanticleer Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/chanticleer-garden) — Pennsylvania, US · Botanical Garden - [Dubuque Arboretum and Botanical Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/dubuque-arboretum-and-botanical-gardens) — Iowa, US · Botanical Garden - [East 73rd Street Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/east-73rd-street-historic-district) — New York, US · Historic District [View all places to see Common Drone Fly](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/common-drone-fly) ## More Insects - [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*) - [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*) - [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*) - [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*) --- Source: [Common Drone Fly: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-drone-fly)