Common Drone Fly

Eristalis tenax

General Status Rank: 
Alien
Common Name: 
Common Drone Fly
Scientific Name: 
Eristalis tenax
Naming References: 
WSS001
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Taxonomy
Group: 
Fly (Flower Fly)
Kingdom: 
Animalia
Phylum: 
Arthropoda
Class: 
Insecta
Order: 
Diptera
Family: 
Syrphidae
General Biology

Economic/Human Considerations

This fly is native to North America and they can cause occasional myasis (maggot disease). In most instances, it’s hard to establish the association of this maggot to the disease in the host. The larvae prefer ponds/water bodies that are low in oxygen and their presence is an indication that the pond ecosystem is detriotiating. M. Lejeune (Alberta CWHC 2016)
Distribution

Ecozones

Taiga Plains, Taiga Shield
References: 
HSS009

Number of Occurrences

1 occurrence 1km from Fort Resolution, 1 occurrence 2km from Yellowknife, 1 occurrence in Norman Wells, 11 occurrences 13km from Fort McPherson, and 1 occurrence 38km from Inuvik (HSS009); Larvey on a beaver carcass near Ft Simpson 01/05/2016 (H325)
References: 
H325
General Status Rank
Rank: 
Alien
S Rank: 
SNA
Decision Process Description: 
Newly ranked in 2014 by Jeff Skevington, with the help of Michelle Locke and Andrew Young, using the NatureServe Canada Rank Calculator. Error correction modified from secure to alien based on rank across Canada (Sept 2021 - SC)
Last Updated: 
September 22, 2021

References

Ecozones

  • Skevington, Jeff (2014) Unpublished data Copy of NWT Syrphidae received 1/08/2014. - HSS009 Return

Naming

  • Skevington, Jeff (2014) Neararctic Syrphidae Checklist http://www.canacoll.org/Diptera/Staff/Skevington/Syrphidae/Syrphidae_Nearctic_Checklist.htm. - WSS001 Return

Number of Occurrences

  • Allaire, D (2016) ecopy on DIIMS - H325 Return