Eristalis tenax 5274229 225276921 2008-07-12T21:04:30Z Mark-mitchell-aldershot 3401544 {{Refimprove|date=January 2008}} {{Taxobox | name = ''Eristalis tenax'' | image = Drone fly feeding on marigold.jpg | image_width = 240px | regnum = [[Animal]]ia | phylum = [[Arthropod]]a | subphylum = [[Hexapoda]] | classis = [[Insect]]a | subclassis = [[Pterygota]] | infraclassis = [[Neoptera]] | superordo = [[Endopterygota]]| | ordo = [[Fly|Diptera]] | subordo = [[Brachycera]] | infraordo = [[Muscomorpha]] | familia = [[Hoverfly|Syrphidae]] | subfamilia = [[Eristalinae]] | tribus = [[Eristaliini]] | subtribus = [[Eristaliina]] | genus = ''[[Eristalis]]'' | species = '''''E. tenax''''' | binomial = ''Eristalis tenax'' | binomial_authority = ([[Carolus Linnaeus|Linnaeus]], [[Systema Naturae|1758]]) | subdivision_ranks = Synonyms | subdivision = *''E. campestris'' <small>[[Johann Wilhelm Meigen|Meigen]], 1822</small> *''Musca tenax''<small> [[Carolus Linnaeus|Linnaeus]], [[Systema Naturae|1758]]</small> }} [[Image:Drone flies mating.jpg|thumb|250px|Drone flies mating on a daisy flower]] '''''Eristalis tenax''''' is a [[Europe]]an [[hoverfly]], also known as the '''drone fly''' (or "dronefly"). It has been [[introduced species|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.<ref Name="Aguilera"/> 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 [[pupa]]te. In doing so it sometimes enters buildings, especially barns and basements on farms. The pupa is 10-12&nbsp;[[millimetre|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 [[stinger|sting]]ing insect. The adults are called drone flies because of this [[mimicry|resemblance]]. Like other hover flies, they are common visitors to flowers, especially in late summer and autumn, and can be significant [[pollinator]]s. In its natural [[habitat (ecology)|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{{Fact|date=January 2008}} and usually do not become a problem, provided sewage and manure are not allowed to accumulate in pits, ponds, or streams. ==Infection== {{Disputed-section|date=March 2008}} There have occasionally been documented cases of human intestinal [[Myiasis]] of the [[Rat-tailed maggot]] (larva of Eristalis tenax). Infection can by asymptomatic(no symptoms) or can manifest as symptoms ranging from abdominal pain, [[nausea]] and [[vomiting]], to [[pruritus ani|anal pruritus]]. Infection can be caused by ingestion of contaminated food or water but doubts have been expressed that accidentally ingested fly larvae could survive in the [[gastrointestinal tract]]. [[Fritz Konrad Ernst Zumpt|Zumpt]] proposed an alternative called "rectal myiasis". Flies, attracted to [[feces]], may deposit their eggs or larvae near or into the [[anus]], and the larvae then penetrate further into the rectum. They can survive feeding on feces at this site, as long as the breathing tube reaches towards the anus.<ref Name="Aguilera">{{cite web | last =A. Aguilera, A. Cid, B. J. Regueiro, J. M. Prieto, and M. Noya | title =Intestinal Myiasis Caused by Eristalis tenax | work = | publisher =Copyright © 1999 American Society for Microbiology {at www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov} | date =1999 | url =http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=85471 | format =web | doi = | accessdate =2008-01-13 }}</ref><ref Name="Whish-Wilson">{{cite web | last =Whish-Wilson | first =Phillip B | title =A possible case of intestinal myiasis due to Eristalis tenax | work = | publisher =The [[Medical Journal of Australia]] | date =2000 | url =http://www.mja.com.au/public/issues/173_11_041200/whishwilson/whishwilson.html | format =web | doi = | accessdate =2008-01-13 }}</ref> ==References== {{reflist}} {{commons}} [[Category:Hoverflies]] [[Category:Diptera of Europe]] [[Category:Invasive animal species]] [[Category:Flies]] [[de:Mistbiene]] [[es:Eristalis tenax]] [[fr:Éristale gluante]] [[he:רקבן הבוץ]] [[nl:Blinde bij]] [[no:Eristalis tenax]] [[pl:Gnojka wytrwała]] [[th:Eristalis tenax]] [[zh:長尾管蚜蠅]]