drone fly

2 definitions found

drone fly - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Drone fly \Drone" fly`\ (Zool.)
     A dipterous insect (Eristalis tenax), resembling the drone
     bee. See Eristalis.
     [1913 Webster]

  Eristalis \E*ris"ta*lis\, n. [NL.] (Zo["o]l.)
     A genus of dipterous insects whose young (called rat-tailed
     larv[ae]) are remarkable for their long tapering tail, which
     spiracles at the tip, and for their ability to live in very
     impure and salt waters; -- also called drone fly. Eristic