hoverfly; syrphid
General term for hoverflies (family Syrphidae), often seen hovering around flowers.
A hoverfly was flying around the flowers in the garden.
drone fly
Specifically refers to Eristalis tenax, a common species of hoverfly that resembles a honeybee.
The drone fly, a type of hoverfly, resembles a honeybee.
Katakana spelling is common for this insect name; usually written in kana.
Kanji spelling is rare and may not be widely recognized; usually written in kana.
Compound of 花 (hana, 'flower') and 虻 (abu, 'horsefly'), referring to a fly often found near flowers. The exact historical derivation is uncertain.