Hawaiian Picture-wing Fly (Silvestris) vs Drone Fly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Hawaiian Picture-wing Fly (Silvestris) | Drone Fly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Drosophila silvestris | Eristalis tenax |
| Order | Diptera | Diptera |
| Family | Drosophilidae | Syrphidae |
| Size | 4-6 mm | 14-18 mm |
| Habitat | Forests | Ponds & Lakes |
| Diet | Wood Feeders | Nectar Feeders |
| Regions | Oceania (Hawaii - Big Island) | Europe, Asia, North America, Oceania |
| Conservation | Endangered | Least Concern |
Hawaiian Picture-wing Fly (Silvestris)
A Hawaiian picture-wing fly closely related to D. heteroneura but with a normally shaped head. It is found in wet forests on Hawaii Island. This species and D. heteroneura are a classic study system for understanding speciation in progress.
Did You Know?
D. silvestris and D. heteroneura can hybridize in the lab, providing key insights into how new species form through sexual selection.
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.