It was first described by Giovanni Antonio Scopoli in 1763 and is found in Asia and Europe.

Like Eristalis tenax, the larvae of E. pertinax are rat-tailed maggots living in drainage ditches, pools around manure piles, sewage, and similar places containing water with high organic load and low oxygen concentration.

External images For terms see Morphology of Diptera Wing length is 8.25–12.75 mm.

Wing with diffusely bordered darkened median band and pterostigma four times as long as wide.

[7] Palaearctic: Fennoscandia south to Iberia and the Mediterranean basin.