Stripe-eyed Lagoon Fly

Eristalinus taeniops

Their compound eyes are marked with distinct vertical dark stripes, a unique feature that helps distinguish them from real bees.

Scientific name: Eristalinus taeniops
Taxonomy: Animalia › Arthropoda › Insecta › Diptera › Syrphidae › Eristalinus
IUCN Red List status: Least Concern
Population trend: stable
Biome: wetland
Habitat: Coastal lagoons, freshwater marshes, ponds, and nearby meadows or gardens.
Diet: Adults feed on nectar and pollen; larvae (rat-tailed maggots) feed on decaying organic matter in stagnant water.
Range: Southern Europe, North Africa, Middle East, California (introduced)
Size: 11 to 14 mm in length
Lifespan: 1 to 2 months total; adults live for 2 to 4 weeks
Active: diurnal
Threats: Wetland destruction, water pollution, and widespread pesticide use.
Safe to approach?: Harmless. Despite its wasp-like appearance and buzzing sound, this hoverfly has no stinger and cannot bite. You can safely observe it closely as it visits flowers. If it lands on you, enjoy the encounter and let it fly away naturally.

Eristalinus taeniops is a species of hoverfly, also known as the band-eyed drone fly .

Photo: Shawn O'Donnell, CC-BY, via iNaturalist