Eristalis similis is a European species of hoverfly.
Eristalis similis belongs to the subfamily Eristalinae, tribe Eristalini.
Distribution:
Palaearctic
Habitat:
Mature/overmature deciduous forest (Fagus, Quercus) and Mediterranean evergreen oak forest (Quercus ilex/Quercus suber), also coniferous forests, parks, gardens and roadsides with flowering plants.
Description:
Eristalis similis has a body length of 13 - 14(16) mm. The feet of the front legs are black. Males show distinct red-brown spots on abdominal segment 2 and 3, females small spots on segment 2. The wings possess a yellow-brown pterostigma four times longer than wide.
Similar species:
A similar species is the Tapered Drone Fly (Eristalis pertinax) with a dark brown pterostigma that is 2 - 3 times as long as wide and with yellowish forefeet.
Biology:
Eristalis similis flies in Germany (usually in 2 generations) from March/April to August. In southern Europe, the flight period extends from February to November.
The imagines visit the flowers of Angelica, Buxus, Chaerophyllum, Convolvulus, Crataegus , Euonymus, Hypericum, Mentha aquatica, Parnassia, Ranunculus, Salix, Sambucus ebulus, Sorbus aria and Tilia. Males and females like to sit on tree trunks in the sun. The males hover at a height of 2 - 4 meters.
