Band-eyed Drone Fly

Description:

One of my favourites and easily identified by those banded eyes. Also commonly refered to as the stripe eyed flower fly, these adults begin their lives as 'rat tailed maggots' often living in polluted or stagnant water on farms where the 'rat tail' is a kind of snorkle, raising above the water surface so they can breath. Its is definatly a honey bee mimic, buzzing loudly and aggressively but is harmless. They fly using a hover fly pattern and frequent flowers for nectar and pollon.

Habitat:

Woodland and open areas