Common Drone Fly on a Grape Hyacinth flower, Cambridge

Ref: 160317-4201     Date: 17-03-2016

This insect is a Common Drone Fly, Eristalis tenax. It is feeding on a Grape Hyacinth (Muscari armeniacum) flower raceme in my Cambridge garden. Drone Flies belong to the Hoverfliy family. The common name comes from the Drone Fly's resemblance to a male honeybee. This one was identified for me by the Royal horticultural Society.