Common Drone Fly - Eristalis tenax

Description

This stocky hoverfly is the commonest 'drone' fly, so called because they mimic bee drones (male hive bees). The orange marks on the abdomen are variable so are not a reliable identification feature, though most specimens have a single pair near to the thorax. It also has a very noticeable dark face stripe and curved rear tibia.

Similar Species

It differs from E. pertinax in having dark front tarsi and banana-shaped rear tibia.

Identification difficulty
Habitat

Gardens and hedgerows.

When to see it

Virtually all year round. The female hibernates in buildings and crevices but will emerge on warm days in late winter, leading to it being seen in virtually every month of the year.

Life History

Larvae live in organically rich polluted rivers and drains, the run off from dung, silage heaps, etc.

UK Status

Widespread and very common throughout Britain.

VC55 Status

Very common in Leicestershire and Rutland.

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2020+ | 2015-2019 | pre-2015

UK Map

Species profile

Species group:
Hoverflies
Kingdom:
Animalia
Order:
Diptera
Family:
Syrphidae
Records on NatureSpot:
853
First record:
02/07/1989 (Maggie Frankum;Neil Frankum)
Last record:
05/10/2024 (Dejardin, Andrew)

Total records by month

% of records within its species group

10km squares with records

The latest images and records displayed below include those awaiting verification checks so we cannot guarantee that every identification is correct. Once accepted, the record displays a green tick.

In the Latest Records section, click on the header to sort A-Z, and again to sort Z-A. Use the header boxes to filter the list.

Latest images

Latest records