Tapered Drone Fly vs Blue Ant

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Tapered Drone Fly Blue Ant
Scientific Name Eristalis pertinax Diamma bicolor
Order Diptera Hymenoptera
Family Syrphidae Tiphiidae
Size 12-16 mm 20-25 mm
Habitat Wetlands Underground
Diet Nectar Feeders Nectar Feeders
Regions Europe Australia, Oceania
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Tapered Drone Fly

A large hoverfly resembling a honeybee but distinguished by its yellow-tipped front tarsi. It is active from early spring to late autumn.

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Did You Know?

It is one of the earliest hoverflies to appear in spring, sometimes flying on warm days in February.

Blue Ant

Despite its name, the Blue Ant is actually a wingless flower wasp, not an ant. Females are metallic blue-green with a powerful sting and are commonly seen running across the ground in search of mole cricket larvae.

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Did You Know?

The wingless female resembles a large ant, while the smaller winged male looks like a completely different insect.