Meromacrus acutus
In 3 days ~10% in a week ~20%
Meromacrus acutus, the Carolinian elegant, is a species of syrphid fly in the family Syrphidae. This uncommon species is distributed in the Eastern United States and South America (see map). Notable for the black and yellow pattern mimicking wasps.
Hoverflies get their names from the ability to remain nearly motionless while in flight. The adults are also known as flower flies for they are commonly found around and on flowers, from which they get both energy-giving nectar and protein-rich pollen. The larvae are aquatic filter-feeders of the rat-tailed type. They are found in rot holes of trees.
For terminology see Speight key to genera and glossary external images Size Length 13–18 mm (0.5–0.7 in) Head The front (frons) has a broad black stripe and has yellow pile on the sides below the ocelli. The face is yellowish red, thickly clothed on the sides with whitish pollen and bright yellow pile. A broad median stripe and shining black cheeks mark the face. Sometimes there is a reddish broad black facial stripe. The antennae are reddish brown on raised antennifer with orange arista: The posterior orbits have abundant short yellow pile with a gap of black at the... Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|
More parks will be added in future updates.
| # | City | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Baltimore | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 2 | Washington | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 3 | Austin | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 4 | Dallas | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 5 | Orlando | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 6 | Philadelphia | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 7 | Houston | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 8 | San Antonio | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 9 | New York City | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 10 | Miami | 🇺🇸 United States |
Rare
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Carolinian Elegant sighting in Philadelphia on a given day, based on 15 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 296th most-seen of the 632 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.
June and September
In those months about 10% of wildlife watchers report a Carolinian Elegant in Philadelphia on a given day, against under 5% in July–August and October–May, the lowest months.
6th of 10
Of the 10 cities where we can rate Carolinian Elegant sightings, Philadelphia ranks 6th at under 5%. The best odds are in Baltimore (United States, about 10%), Washington (United States, under 5%) and Austin (United States, under 5%).
Same family: Syrphidae
The closest relatives of the Carolinian Elegant that you can see in Philadelphia (family Syrphidae, Hover Flies) are Margined Calligrapher (about 10%), Eastern Calligrapher (about 10%) and Eurasian Drone Fly (about 10%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Carolinian Elegant is recorded against all the insects logged in Philadelphia (15 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.
