Eristalis dimidiata

Distinguished from other Eristalis species by the combination of opaque, darkened humeral cells at the wing base with otherwise clear wings, and entirely black hind tarsi. The dark shoulder patches on the wings are particularly conspicuous in flight.

Medium-sized hoverfly with predominantly black body and white posterior margins on abdominal segments. Wings distinctive: humeral cells at wing base opaque and infuscated (darkened), remainder of wing hyaline (transparent), sometimes with diffuse medial spot. Hind tarsi entirely black. Pterostigma dark brown and distinct. Arista with 1–6 short dorsal bristles.

Primarily forested environments.

Native to much of Canada and the eastern and northern United States.

Active year-round in southern parts of range; from late March to mid-November in northern areas. One of the earliest hoverflies to appear in spring.

Adults feed on nectar and pollen from flowers. Larvae are aquatic filter-feeders.

Likely overwinters as adult. Aquatic larval stage with rat-tailed morphology typical of Eristalis.

Adults hover motionless in flight, characteristic of hoverflies. Frequently observed visiting flowers.

Adults contribute to pollination through flower visitation. Aquatic larvae participate in detritus processing in freshwater systems.

• Other Eristalis speciesShare general body plan and hoverfly behavior; distinguished by wing pattern (humeral cells entirely dark) and black hind tarsi
• Syrphus and other hoverfly generaSimilar flower-visiting behavior and appearance; require examination of wing venation and leg coloration for separation

• BugGuide
• Wikipedia
• GBIF taxonomy match
• iNaturalist taxon
• NCBI Taxonomy
• Catalogue of Life
• Pyromorpha dimidiata | Beetles In The Bush