Eristalis tenax
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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 [[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]]
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