The European Drone Fly (Eristalis arbustorum) is a common and widespread insect in the Syrphidae family of hoverflies. It is a syrphid. It is also known as the Hoverfly.
It is a bee mimic, because it looks like a bee, such as a Honey Bee.
The European Drone Fly is bee-like with yellow and orange or reddish markings. It has a distinctive marking on its thorax. It has six legs, a pair of wings, and large brown-haired eyes.
It measures 2.5 centimetres (1 inch) long.
The European Drone Fly is found in Europe. It likes parks, gardens, fields, and meadows.
It is called a hoverfly because the male hovers still in the air and chases away intruders from its territory. It is territorial.
The adult European Drone Fly feeds on nectar from flowers. It is a pollinator, like the bee.
The female lays eggs, which hatch into larvae. The larva of the Drone Fly is a maggot, like the larva of a House Fly. The larva feeds on bacteria. When the larva is fully grown, the larva looks for a suitable place to pupate, such as in a building. The adult fly emerges from the pupa. This is called metamorphosis.
Location of photographs: Paris, France
Photographer: Martina Nicolls
Martina Nicolls: SIMILAR BUT DIFFERENT IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM