Transverse-banded Flower Fly

Eristalis transversa

Their larvae, known as 'rat-tailed maggots,' use a telescopic breathing tube to respire while submerged in oxygen-poor mud.

Scientific name: Eristalis transversa
Taxonomy: Animalia › Arthropoda › Insecta › Diptera › Syrphidae › Eristalis
IUCN Red List status: Least Concern
Population trend: stable
Biome: grassland
Habitat: Meadows, flower gardens, and forest edges near shallow, stagnant water.
Diet: Adults consume nectar and pollen; larvae feed on decaying organic matter in water.
Range: North America, Europe
Size: 10-14 mm in length
Lifespan: 3-5 weeks as an adult
Active: diurnal
Threats: Pesticide exposure, habitat fragmentation, and pollution of stagnant water sources.
Safe to approach?: Harmless. Though it mimics the appearance of a stinging wasp, it lacks a stinger and cannot bite. It is safe to observe from any distance. If it lands on you, simply let it fly off or gently nudge it.

Eristalis transversa , the transverse flower fly , is a species of syrphid fly in the family Syrphidae.

Photo: Judy Gallagher, CC-BY, via iNaturalist