Differential diagnosis

Eristalis gatesi belongs to a group (Eristalis) characterized by wing venation (closed and petiolate cell R1 and sinuate vein R4+5), a basolateral setose patch on the hind femora, eye pilose, katepimeron bare, and wing bare apically. Eristalis gatesi differs from the other species in this group by its unique color pattern of black and yellow on the abdomen.

The subgenus Eoeristalis differs from Eristalis sensu stricto by having katepimeron bare (pilose in Eristalis s.s.).