Eristalis Tenax (Linnaeus) is the commonest 'drone' fly, as they mimic male honey bees, known as drones. The orange marks on the abdomen vary, so this is not always a reliable feature to recognise Eristalis Tenax. It does have a very noticeable dark face stripe and curved (Slight swollen appearance) rear tibia.
Widespread and common throughout Europe and up to three generations can be produced in one year.
Wing length: 9.75mm to 13mm.
A wide- range of wild flowers are visited.
Flight season: Virtually all year round, the females hibernates in crevices and buildings and will emerge anytime on mild days in late winter.
Adult Eristalis Tenax are important pollinators for a vast range of crops and wild flowers.
The female lays the eggs in masses near the surface of foul water.
The larvae are aquatic and live in decaying vegetation, usually in ponds, ditches and can also be found in farmyard manure, silage and drains. The larvae can be a threat to livestock as they live in water and breath through a long tubed, which can be up to several times length of the maggot’s body; hence the common name “rat-tailed maggot”. If consumed can cause Myiasis, not only to livestock and other vertebrate animals but also to humans as the larvae feeds on the host’s living tissues; this is a condition that “Bot and Blow Flies” can also inflict.