Hover fly on a poppy flower

This hover fly is actually called the drone fly. It is a very common, medium-sized hoverfly. Drone flies mimic honey bees really well. They do that to protect themselves from predators. Their larvae are known as 'rat-tailed maggots' and live in muddy water, feeding on decaying organic matter. Adult flies feed on nectar in various habitats and can be seen throughout the year.