What are the chances of seeing a Melanostoma mellina in Chicago?
Rare
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Melanostoma mellina sighting in Chicago on a given day, based on 5 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 884th most-seen of the 978 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 10%, if each day is a fresh chance.
When is the best time to see a Melanostoma mellina in Chicago?
Any time of year
In every month with enough records, under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Melanostoma mellina in Chicago on a given day, so our monthly data shows no clear season.
What time of day is best to see a Melanostoma mellina?
Between 10 am and 1 pm
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Melanostoma mellina sightings with a recorded time, and about 9 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.
Is Chicago the best place to see a Melanostoma mellina?
15th of 15
Of the 15 cities where we can rate Melanostoma mellina sightings, Chicago ranks 15th at under 5%. The best odds are in Brussels (Belgium, about 10%), Vancouver (Canada, about 10%) and Portland (United States, about 10%).
Which relatives of the Melanostoma mellina live in Chicago?
Same family: Syrphidae
The closest relatives of the Melanostoma mellina that you can see in Chicago (family Syrphidae, Hover Flies) are Margined Calligrapher (about 10%), Narrow-Headed Marsh Fly (about 10%) and Transverse-Banded Flower Fly (about 10%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
Where does the Melanostoma mellina sighting chance come from?
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Melanostoma mellina is recorded against all the insects logged in Chicago (5 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.