Eristalis pertinax is one of the larger Hoverflies mimicking the honey bee.
Widespread over Europe and into the Asian countries. One of the first species to be on the wing. The females are not so common to see early in the year, becoming more abundant in numbers in the late summer months.
The larva is described as a “rat-tailed maggot”, because of a long rear, tail-like, extendable breathing tube, this enables the larva to be tolerant of polluted water. Able to live in sewage, manure contaminated water, drains and ditches, all with low oxygen concentration.
