#3770 · 🪰 flies & mosquitoes

Furry Dronefly

🇳🇱 Hommelbijvlieg ·Eristalis intricaria

🪰 Flies & mosquitoes 📍 in the Netherlands

7 photos from iNaturalist (Creative Commons) · credits & licences

what is it?

Eristalis intricaria is a European species of hoverfly. It is a furry bee mimic, superficially resembling Merodon , though Merodon have all black leg tibiae, as opposed to partly yellow. E. intricaria is somewhat variable in colour pattern, and some attempts at naming varieties have been tentatively made. Flight time of adults in the UK are from March to September. It is generally widespread, but is seldom seen in large numbers. Habitat is woodland or marshland.

base stats

NL sightings 430iNaturalist, research grade
worldwide 5,110iNaturalist observations

Bars compare against all animals on log scales: up to 300,000 Dutch and 600,000 worldwide sightings (the most-seen species), 150 t (blue whale), 30 m and 400 years (Greenland shark).

fun facts

Spotted 430 times in the Netherlands on iNaturalist: the #19 most seen of the flies & mosquitoes in NL.
5,110 observations worldwide on iNaturalist.
Scientifically named in 1758 (268 years ago).