Toxomerus geminatus
In 3 days ~30% in a week ~60%
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 |
With luck
About 10% of wildlife watchers report an Eastern Calligrapher sighting in Toronto on a given day, based on 725 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 36th most-seen of the 1689 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 30%, and over a week to about 60%, if each day is a fresh chance.
July and August
In those months about 20% of wildlife watchers report an Eastern Calligrapher in Toronto on a given day, against under 5% in December to March, 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.
6th of 13
Of the 13 cities where we can rate Eastern Calligrapher sightings, Toronto ranks 6th at about 10%. The best odds are in Boston (United States, about 20%), Washington (United States, about 10%) and Minneapolis [Saint Paul] (United States, about 10%).
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Eastern Calligrapher is recorded against all the insects logged in Toronto (725 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.
