Drone Fly vs Bicolored Trailing Ant
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Drone Fly | Bicolored Trailing Ant |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Eristalis tenax | Monacis bispinosa |
| Order | Diptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Syrphidae | Formicidae |
| Size | 14-18 mm | 2-3 mm |
| Habitat | Ponds & Lakes | Forests |
| Diet | Nectar Feeders | Nectar Feeders |
| Regions | Europe, Asia, North America, Oceania | Central America, Caribbean, Northern South America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Drone Fly
A large hoverfly that is an excellent mimic of the honey bee, complete with similar coloring and buzzing flight. Its aquatic larva is known as a rat-tailed maggot due to its long breathing siphon.
Did You Know?
The rat-tailed maggot larva can breathe in heavily polluted water by extending its telescoping tail siphon up to 10 centimeters to reach the surface air.
Bicolored Trailing Ant
A neotropical dolichoderine ant with two prominent spines on its thorax. It forms long foraging trails on tree trunks and is common in Caribbean and Central American forests.
Did You Know?
It is one of the few dolichoderine ants that possesses prominent thoracic spines for defense.