DIPTERA
Order Diptera encompasses about 20,000 species across North America (not including Mexico). These mostly daytime flyers are a common sight during the long summer days across Tennessee on land and near bodies of water. Flies belong to this order and feature sucking mouthparts as well as a second set of full wings - the latter making them excellent flyers. The dreaded mosquito also belongs to the order and females of the species sport blood-sucking mouthparts. Beyond these two, Crane Flies, Gnats, and Bee Flies also belong to the group.
The Taxonomic Breakdown is the scientific way to categorize a partocular insect species from its largest group (Animalia) to its smallest (variable). The Genus and Species categorizations taken together make up the species' scientific name shown above, in this case Eristalis tenax.
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Diptera
Family: Syrphidae
Genus: Eristalis
Species: tenax
Indoors: Can be found indoors; inside dwellings.
Outdoors: Typically found across the great outdoors.
Six-Legged: Six legs are common to this insect.
Winged: Has wings to hop or fly over distance.
The Common Drone Fly has been identified by site users by the following descriptors:
large flying wings winged outdoors indoors garden eyes transparent six-legged black orange hairy fuzzy brown red
The general likelihood of encountering this insect based on a given month of the year in the state of Tennessee. Generally, the best sighting months are June through August with peak occurring in July.
41F
JAN
44F
FEB
53F
MAR
62F
APR
70F
MAY
78F
JUN
80F
JUL
79F
AUG
73F
SEP
62F
OCT
52F
NOV
44F
DEC
Below is a representation of the 'smallest-small' and 'largest-large' sizes commonly associated with the Common Drone Fly. Due to monitor differences, sizes may not be exact on your particular screen. Conversions to millimeters are provided for convenience.
Lowest-Low:
0.51 inches (13 mm)
Highest-High:
0.59 inches (15 mm)
Below you will find the colors most commonly associated with the Common Drone Fly. Both Primary and Secondary colors are represented in the showcase. Due to monitor differences, colors may not be exact representations.
ORANGE
BROWN
RED
BLACK
The Common Drone Fly can be found in the following Tennessee counties:
Image of an adult Common Drone Fly flying insect at rest on a flower.; Credit: Dave E. of Swaledale, Iowa.
This image is original to www.InsectIdentification.org; Used with Permission.
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