Toxomerus geminatus
In 3 days ~50% in a week ~80%
Toxomerus geminatus (Say,1823) the Eastern Calligrapher, is a common species of syrphid fly observed in the eastern and central United States and Canada. Syrphid flies are also known as Hover Flies or Flower Flies because the adults are frequently found hovering around flowers from which they feed on nectar and pollen. Adults are 6.1–7.6 mm (0.24–0.30 in) long and are very similar to the Western Calligrapher. The larvae are predators of a variety of aphids and mites.
For terminology see Speight key to genera and glossary Size Length,. 5–7.6 mm (0.20–0.30 in) Head The face, frontal triangle, and antennae are light yellow in color, and the face has white pollen on the sides. The antennae may sometimes be a little brownish. In the female, the front is much narrower above, and is shining black, with a narrow yellow line on the sides at the lower half. The posterior orbits are thickly whitish dusted, and the eye has a distinct triangular emargination on the posterior margin at or above the level of the antennae.
Thorax The scutum is shining black, with opaque linear stripes and the lateral stripes being entirely yellow and the median stripe being cinereous (ashy... Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Acadia National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 2 | Great Smoky Mountains National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 3 | Shenandoah National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 4 | Point Pelee National Park | 🇨🇦 Canada | |
| 5 | Congaree National Park | 🇺🇸 United States |
| # | City | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boston | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 2 | Washington | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 3 | Minneapolis [Saint Paul] | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 4 | Montreal | 🇨🇦 Canada | |
| 5 | New York City | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 6 | Toronto | 🇨🇦 Canada | |
| 7 | Baltimore | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 8 | Philadelphia | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 9 | Chicago | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 10 | Detroit | 🇺🇸 United States |
Possible
About 20% of wildlife watchers report an Eastern Calligrapher sighting in Acadia National Park on a given day, based on 114 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 14th most-seen of the 405 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 50%, and over a week to about 80%, if each day is a fresh chance.
October
In that month about 30% of wildlife watchers report an Eastern Calligrapher in Acadia National Park on a given day, against under 5% in November to April, the lowest months.
Between 11 am and 2 pm
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Eastern Calligrapher sightings with a recorded time, and nearly all of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.
Yes
Of the 5 parks where we can rate Eastern Calligrapher sightings, Acadia National Park has the highest daily chance: about 20%. Next come Great Smoky Mountains National Park (United States, about 20%) and Shenandoah National Park (United States, about 20%).
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Eastern Calligrapher is recorded against all the insects logged in Acadia National Park (114 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
