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The European drone fly is a small hover fly that looks like a honeybee. It came to North America from Europe, was introduced near Toronto around 1885, and has since spread across much of the US and Canada. The name "drone fly" comes from its resemblance to a male honeybee (a drone).

Appearance

Appearance
A stocky hover fly with wings about 1/4–3/8 in (7–10 mm) long. The whole face is covered in pale dust, which is the best clue; abdomen markings vary, and some individuals are almost entirely black.

Look-alikes

Common drone flyEristalis tenax

The common drone fly is usually a bit larger, but the sizes overlap, so size alone won't settle it. The European drone fly's face is entirely covered in pale dust, so a head-on photo helps (worn individuals may show a shiny black stripe down the middle).

Why they get mixed upSame genus, with similar colors and abdominal bands.

Western honey beeApis mellifera

Honey bees have four wings and a narrow "waist"; drone flies have only two wings and no waist.

Why they get mixed upIt looks like a honeybee in size and color while visiting flowers.

Where it lives

Typical habitats
  • Wetlands
  • Farmland
  • Forests
  • Urban parks and gardens
Range
Native across Europe, North Africa, and Asia. Introduced to North America and now widespread in much of the US and Canada.

Behavior

Diet
Adults visit a wide range of low-growing flowers and shrubs for nectar and pollen.

Life cycle

Larva
The larva is a "rat-tailed" maggot that lives in water and filters out tiny food particles. A long, stretchy breathing tube lets it live in shallow, nutrient-rich standing water, cow dung, and compost heaps.

Conservation

IUCN Red List
NENot EvaluatedNot yet assessed

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European Drone Fly (Eristalis arbustorum) — identification, habitat & look-alikes | Moeyo