Common drone fly
Its larva is the rat-tailed maggot, which breathes through a long telescopic tube while living in stagnant water.
| Where | Gardens, farmland, flowers near ponds and ditches |
|---|---|
| Size | 12 to 15 mm |
| When | May to October |
The adult mimics a male honey bee so closely that for centuries people believed bees could be born from dead animals.
It is one of the last insects on autumn ivy flowers, and females spend the winter in sheds and caves.
Traits
Habitat
Garden
Colour
Brown, Yellow
Active
Day
To people
Harmless; cannot sting
Activity through the year
Often confused with
The honey bee has two pairs of wings, elbowed antennae and smaller eyes.
Questions
Is the Common drone fly dangerous to people?
Harmless; cannot sting.
When can you see the Common drone fly?
The Common drone fly can be seen from May to October, by day.
Plate retouched from a museum specimen photo by Natural History Museum, CC0, GBIF Licence
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Last updated 2026-09-26. Every entry is checked against published sources.