Black-shouldered Drone Fly

Eristalis dimidiata

Their larvae are called 'rat-tailed maggots' because they use a long, telescoping breathing tube like a snorkel to breathe underwater.

Scientific name: Eristalis dimidiata
Taxonomy: Animalia › Arthropoda › Insecta › Diptera › Syrphidae › Eristalis
IUCN Red List status: Least Concern
Population trend: stable
Biome: wetland
Habitat: Wetlands, marshes, damp woodlands, gardens, and agricultural fields near stagnant water.
Diet: Adults feed on nectar and pollen from flowers; larvae (rat-tailed maggots) feed on decaying organic matter in stagnant water.
Range: North America
Size: Wingspan of 10-14 mm; body length of 10-15 mm.
Lifespan: Adults live for about 1 to 2 months; entire life cycle is around 1 year.
Active: diurnal
Threats: Pesticide use, habitat loss of wetland breeding sites, and decline in floral diversity.
Safe to approach?: Completely harmless. Despite its bee-like appearance (Batesian mimicry), the drone fly has no stinger or venom and cannot bite. You can safely observe them from inches away as they hover near flowers. If one lands on you, it is likely seeking sweat or salts; simply let it be or gently brush it away.

Eristalis dimidiata is a species of syrphid fly in the family Syrphidae.

Photo: Gilles Gonthier, CC-BY, via iNaturalist