Western honey bee vs Common drone fly

These two are easy to mix up. Here's how to tell a western honey bee from a common drone fly, and whether either one bites or stings.

Western honey bee (Apis mellifera) — no rights reserved

Common drone fly (Eristalis tenax) — (c) nevwright, some rights reserved (CC BY)

≠The key differences

Honeybees have denser body hair, two pairs of wings, long elbowed antennae and, in workers, pollen baskets on the hind legs; workers can sting, drones cannot. Drone flies have one pair of wings, very short antennae and large eyes that take up most of the head.

⚖︎Side by side

	Western honey bee	Common drone fly
To humans	Stinging insect	Non-toxic
Size	10-15 mm body length (worker)	12-16 mm body length
Colours	Golden brown, Dark brown, Black	Dark brown, Black, Yellow-brown, Orange-brown
Family	Apidae	Syrphidae
Habitat	Cavity-nesting in tree hollows or man-made hives; found in agricultural, suburban and wild landscapes where flowering plants are available.	Gardens, farmland, meadows, woodland edges; larvae in stagnant or polluted water, drainage systems, manure heaps and wet organic-rich substrates
Range	Native to Africa, Europe and parts of western Asia; now globally introduced and established on most continents.	Originally Palearctic but now cosmopolitan — common across Europe, North America, parts of Africa, Asia, Australia and other regions
Active	Active in spring through early autumn in temperate zones; year-round activity in warmer climates; diurnal (daytime foraging).	Active mainly spring to autumn in temperate regions; adults fly during daylight, often sunny warm hours
Pest?	No	No

🔍How to spot a western honey bee

Worker size 10-15 mm with golden-brown and dark banded abdomen
Hind legs have smooth pollen baskets (corbiculae) often carrying yellow or orange pollen
Distinctive waisted body and two pairs of translucent wings; workers have barbed stinger (not visible externally)

Full western honey bee guide →

🔍How to spot a common drone fly

Bee-like banded abdomen but body less hairy on close inspection.
Single pair of wings (flies) versus two pairs in bees — look for wing venation typical of hoverflies.
Characteristic hovering flight and darting movement; often visits flowers like a bee.
If you can see the larva, the long posterior breathing tube ("rat-tail") identifies Eristalis-type larvae.

Full common drone fly guide →

?Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a western honey bee and a common drone fly?

Is a western honey bee or a common drone fly more dangerous?

Western honey bee: Stinging insect. Common drone fly: Non-toxic. Workers can sting once (barbed stinger typically remains in skin), causing local pain, swelling and itching. Adults cannot sting or bite and carry no venom; like all hoverflies they only feed on nectar and pollen.

Identification from photos is never certain: don't handle insects you can't identify, and get medical advice for bites, stings or allergic reactions.