Eristalis horticola is a medium-sized hoverfly species, with an average wing length between 8·25-11·5 millimeters.

They can be found at their northernmost point in southern areas of the Fennoscandian peninsula, down to the Mediterranean basin and North Africa.

These flowers include yellow composites, white umbellifers, Compositae, Ranunculaceae, and Umbelliferae, Calluna vulgaris, Cardamine, Cirsium, Crataegus, Eupatorium, Galium, Jasione, Pyrus communis, Ranunculus, Rubus fruticosus, Rubus idaeus, Sambucus, Sorbus aucuparia, Stellaria, Succisa, and Viburnum opulus.

The scientific name of this species was published as Musca horticola in 1776 by Charles De Geer.

In 2004, entomologists Peter Chandler, Andrew Wakeham-Dawson and Angus McCullough submitted a request to the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature to conserve both names with a neotype.