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Genus Eristalis
Classification Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Diptera (Flies)
No Taxon (Aschiza)
Family Syrphidae (Syrphid Flies)
Subfamily Eristalinae
Tribe Eristalini
Genus Eristalis
Other Common Names Drone Flies (sometimes applied to E. tenax only)
Rat-tailed maggots (larvae of E. tenax) Pronunciation ih-RISS-tah-liss Numbers Nearctica.com and Arnett, p. 887, (1) list 23 species. Identification Some species (e.g., E. tenax) resemble honey bees. Others are darker, less hairy, e.g., E. dimidiatus, E. nemorum.
Moderately to very hairy; head broader than high and about as broad or slightly broader than thorax; antennae short, inserted near middle of head, third segment longest ventrally, while dorso-apically it is shorter and rounded; arista generally long; eyes range from bare to pilose, holoptic to narrowly dichoptic in male; mesonotum short and compact, rather convex; scutellum without fringe; stigmatic cross-vein present, spurious vein generally distinct, marginal cell closed, third vein deeply bent into apical cell and ending well above apex of wing, anterior cross-vein at or near middle of discal cell; hind femora slender to moderately thickened and without spurs, spines, or teeth; tibiae nearly straight or moderately arcuate; abdomen generally with yellow and black markings. Range North America. E. tenax is introduced from Europe. Habitat Fields, etc. with flowers Season March-November (North Carolina), April-October (Minnesota). Few in mid-summer? Food Adults take nectar at flowers. Life Cycle Larvae, at least of E. tenax, live in eutrophic water, have tail that serves as "snorkel" for breathing. Remarks Eggs of E. tenax are occasionally swallowed by humans and the larvae live in the human intestinal tract, where they cause "myiasis". E. tenax sometimes emerges from carrion, closely resembles honey bee. This may account for the biblical story of honeybees nesting in a dead lion. Print References Swann and Papp, p. 619, fig. 1372-- E. tenax (3)
Milne, p. 669, fig. 508-- E. tenax (4)
Arnett and Jacques, #331-- E. tenax (5)
Lutz, 3rd ed., plate 52-- E. tenax (6)Internet References Cirrus Digital Imaging-- E. nemorum and E. dimidiatus
Washington DC Biodiversity: E. dimidiatus, E. transversus
Syrphidae of Oklahoma. Useful descriptions although somewhat obsolete.
Field Guide to Flower Flies of Ontario with adult descriptions of 16 species, and photos with arrows pointing to diagnostic field marks (Jeff Skevington et al, Argiculture Canada)
Insects of Cedar Creek: E. dimidiatus, flavipes, nemorum, latifrons; phenology
North Carolina State University Entomology Collection lists for that state, with number pinned: anthophorinus (9), arbustorum (51), barda (9), dimidiatus (122), hirtus (3), saxorum (45), stipator (9), tenax (117), transversus (177)
Works Cited | 3. | The Common Insects of North America
By Lester A. Swan, Charles S. Papp | |
| 5. | Simon & Schuster's Guide to Insects
By Dr. Ross H. Arnett, Dr. Richard L. Jacques |  |
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