Oblique-banded Pond Fly

Sericomyia chrysotoxoides

Its larvae are 'rat-tailed maggots' which use a long, telescopic breathing tube like a snorkel to breathe air while buried deep in oxygen-poor mud.

Scientific name: Sericomyia chrysotoxoides
Taxonomy: Animalia › Arthropoda › Insecta › Diptera › Syrphidae › Sericomyia
IUCN Red List status: Least Concern
Population trend: stable
Biome: wetland
Habitat: Acidic bogs, fens, wet meadows, and damp deciduous or mixed forests near standing water.
Diet: Adults feed on nectar and pollen from flowering plants like elderberry and wild rose; larvae feed on decaying organic matter in wet mud.
Range: North America, Canada, Northern United States
Size: 11-15 mm in length
Lifespan: Approximately 1 year (mostly spent in the larval stage; adults live 3 to 5 weeks)
Active: diurnal
Threats: Wetland drainage, development of boggy areas, and widespread use of chemical pesticides.
Safe to approach?: Harmless. Despite its wasp-like appearance, this hoverfly cannot sting or bite. It is completely safe to observe from any distance. If it lands on you, simply enjoy the encounter or gently brush it away.

Sericomyia chrysotoxoides is a North American species of flower fly.

Photo: christine123, CC-BY, via iNaturalist