Eristalis tenax
West Worthing, West Sussex
[ Wingspan: 9 - 13 millimetres ]
The Common Drone Fly looks like a bee and has a name that suggests that it’s a fly. However, it is a hoverfly! It resembles a bee drone (hence the name). This mimicry helps to protect it from predators. Like bees, these insects are pollinators.
Look closely, and you’ll not see the two pairs of wings that bees have, nor the ‘waist’ typical of bees, nor the stinger.
It can be identified by the orange markings on its abdomen, although these can vary substantially, and by the curve of its rear tibia.
