1795 ‘P. Pindar’ i. 2 Leek bullocks sting'd by appledranes.
1874 W. Cory Let. in J. Drinkwater (1970) 173 To-night we assist a more nimble sort of enemies, ‘apple-drones’, or wasps, close to the stable.
1908 M. P. Willcocks v. 75 Buzz, buzz, buzz, and do nothing all day long, like an apple-drane in a cow-flop.