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dronefly


dronefly
Photo Information
Copyright: Siegfried Potrykus (neusser0204) Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 487 W: 48 N: 1815] (7110)
Genre: Places
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-10-02
Categories: Nature
Exposure: f/10.0, 1/250 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2008-10-30 12:16
Viewed: 172
Points: 8
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Eristalis tenax is a European hoverfly, also known as the drone fly (or "dronefly"). It has been introduced into North America and is widely established.

The larva of E. tenax is a rat-tailed maggot. It lives in drainage ditches, pools around manure piles, sewage, and similar places containing water badly polluted with organic matter.[2] The larva likely feeds on the abundant bacteria living in these places.

When fully grown, the larva creeps out into drier habitats and seeks a suitable place to pupate. In doing so it sometimes enters buildings, especially barns and basements on farms. The pupa is 10-12 mm long, grey-brown, oval, and retains the long tail; it looks like a tiny mouse.

The adult fly that emerges from the pupa is harmless. It looks somewhat like a drone honey bee, and likely gains some degree of protection from this resemblance to a stinging insect. The adults are called drone flies because of this resemblance. Like other hover flies, they are common visitors to flowers, especially in late summer and autumn, and can be significant pollinators.

In its natural habitat, E. tenax is more of a curiosity than a problem, and the adults are beneficial pollinators. Drone flies have never been implicated as disease vectors[citation needed] and usually do not become a problem, provided sewage and manure are not allowed to accumulate in pits, ponds, or streams.
boreocypriensis, Royaldevon, juyona, skobek, tibig has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Hi Siggi,
Excellent macro shot of a drone fly from an unusual POV with wonderful details and sharpness my friend.
TFS and cheers,
Bayram

Hello Siegfried,

Very interesting and informative notes on this drone fly.
Very good details of the insect and its flower.
The whole shot is nicely composed, using an excellent dof.

Kind regards,
Bev :-)

Witaj Siegfried,
ciekawe o czym taka mucha może brzęczeć. W każdym razie to są jej musze sprawy. Na zdjęciu pokazana jest za to w całej okazałości ze wszystkimi drobnymi detalami.
Pozdrowienia - Sławek

  • Great 
  • tibig Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 657 W: 26 N: 681] (7565)
  • [2008-10-31 11:57]

Sharp, good composition, neat colors, well lit. To put it short, a very good macro shot.
Regards,
Tibi

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