Spilomyia alcimus
In 3 days ~10% in a week ~20%
Spilomyia alcimus, the Broad-banded Hornet Fly, is an uncommon species of syrphid fly first officially described by Walker in 1849. 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 known as the short-tailed larvae suited for moist areas such as rot holes of trees. Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|
More parks will be added in future updates.
| # | City | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boston | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 2 | New York City | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 3 | Minneapolis [Saint Paul] | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 4 | Toronto | 🇨🇦 Canada | |
| 5 | Chicago | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 6 | Washington | 🇺🇸 United States |
Rare
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Broad-Banded Hornet Fly sighting in Toronto on a given day, based on 17 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 792nd most-seen of the 1689 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 Broad-Banded Hornet Fly in Toronto on a given day, so our monthly data shows no clear season.
Among the best
Of the 6 cities where we can rate Broad-Banded Hornet Fly sightings, Toronto ranks 4th at under 5%, level with the leaders once rounded. The best odds are in Boston (United States, under 5%), New York City (United States, under 5%) and Minneapolis [Saint Paul] (United States, under 5%).
Same genus: Spilomyia
The closest relatives of the Broad-Banded Hornet Fly that you can see in Toronto (genus Spilomyia, Hornet Flies) are Eastern Hornet Fly (about 10%) and Four-Lined Hornet Fly (about 10%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Broad-Banded Hornet Fly is recorded against all the insects logged in Toronto (17 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.
