Parhelophilus integer
In 3 days ~10% in a week ~20%
Parhelophilus integer, the shiny bog fly, is a rare species of syrphid fly observed in the Eastern United States. Hoverflies can remain nearly motionless in flight. The adults are also known as flower flies, for they are commonly found on flowers from which they get both energy-giving nectar and protein-rich pollen. The larvae of this genus are the long tailed "rat-tailed" type. Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Point Pelee National Park | 🇨🇦 Canada |
More parks will be added in future updates.
| # | City | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boston | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 2 | Toronto | 🇨🇦 Canada | |
| 3 | Washington | 🇺🇸 United States |
Rare
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Shiny Bog Fly sighting in Boston on a given day, based on 8 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 830th most-seen of the 1200 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 10%, and over a week to about 20%, if each day is a fresh chance.
Any time of year
In every month with enough records, under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Shiny Bog Fly in Boston on a given day, so our monthly data shows no clear season.
Between 3 and 6 pm
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Shiny Bog Fly sightings with a recorded time, and about 9 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.
Yes
Of the 3 cities where we can rate Shiny Bog Fly sightings, Boston has the highest daily chance: under 5%. Next come Toronto (Canada, under 5%) and Washington (United States, under 5%).
Same family: Syrphidae
The closest relatives of the Shiny Bog Fly that you can see in Boston (family Syrphidae, Hover Flies) are Margined Calligrapher (about 20%), Eastern Calligrapher (about 20%) and Transverse-Banded Flower Fly (about 10%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Shiny Bog Fly is recorded against all the insects logged in Boston (8 verified sightings), 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.
