Eastern Calligrapher Hoverfly - Toxomerus geminatus
Today, a tiny insect specie returns for a big showcase and a closer look as these individuals navigate the return of spring. When finding these insects in my area, I tend to see them only during spring, but apparently they can be found up until the autumn months. They are small, so they're likely easy to miss alongside other large pollinators, but do keep in mind they also need to grow and metamorphose from their hungry larval form. In that form, this Hoverfly wriggles and lumbers around the flowering plants that the adult placed her eggs upon. It seems that one of the individuals here may have begun the process anew and placed fresh eggs upon a leaf. While uncertain, the yellow specks towards the bottom of the leaf seen in Picture 1 just might be Fly eggs! It's a shame to only find them in hindsight, but sometimes that is the way of things as nature is observed. In any case, the eggs hatch soon after their placement and then wriggle forth in search of he tastiest Aphids and any other nearby soft-bodied arthropods! From other images that I've reviewed, the larvae of this insect specie appear green-colored, and can probably conceal themselves easily as they travel along the leaves. Should this Fly's larvae go unnoticed by predators which rely on vision to find prey, the larvae can comfortably feed and grow within a garden or meadow. After a brief pupation, a Hymenopteran-mimic Hoverfly with finely detailed patterning along its abdomen emerges to fly.
As a mimic of other pollinating insects, it too will visit flowers to obtain food, but in the form of nectar and pollen rather than Aphids. As it interacts with the innards of a flower, the activity grants the flower pollination. This could be crucial so early in the year. How remarkable to know that this specie acts in a beneficial manner to plants throughout its lifecycle. And based on my observations from these pictures, the specie appears to be a generalist as the individuals photographed here have explored an array of plants. Naturally some plants will be more suitable for food and eggs than others, but these Flies can search for cues and signs related to suitability. As they do, they could even bump into other small Hoverfly species. Larger Hoverflies (particularly males) can be become quite territorial over the areas they hover around, but it's not well known if smaller Hoverflies behave the same way. Perhaps observe them if you find them, but be aware of other North American species which resemble them. From my observances, the two most prominent are the Common Oblique Hoverfly (which is fairly distinct from the Eastern Calligrapher) and the Marginated Calligrapher, a close relative. The latter's abdomen patterning has a fine curve to it and the coloration is quite similar, but the curves are broader and not as finely-pointed like those of the Eastern Calligrapher.
Pictures were taken on May 6, 2021 with a Google Pixel 4. Oh, and all individuals photographed here are female Flies. Note their eyes and the presence of a tipped abdomen. However, it's not often one finds an Eastern Calligrapher which folds its wings at rest.
