Maize Calligrapher Toxomerus politus (Say, 1823)    
Kingdom Animalia   >   Phylum Arthropoda   >   Class Insecta   >   Order Diptera   >   Family Syrphidae   >   Genus Toxomerus   

Status:

Common in Maryland in fields and meadows. Adults feed on pollen including that of corn, sorghum, and other Poaceae (BugGuide). Larvae are known to feed on corn pollen and sap, but not considered to be a major pest (Skevington, 2019). Flies primarily July through September.

Description:

Readily identified by the distinctive abdominal pattern of blue and black bands together with medial bands in tergites 3-5. Noticeably larger, and with a more limited flight period, than the more common T. marginatus and T. geminatus.

There are 158 records in the project database.

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Maize Calligrapher in Washington Co., Maryland (8/9/2020). (c) Jim Moore (Maryland), some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Jim Moore. (MBP list)

Maize Calligrapher in Calvert Co., Maryland (9/2/2021). (c) jasoneavery, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Jason Avery. (MBP list)

A Maize Calligrapher in Washington Co., Maryland (8/19/2018). Verified by Bill Dean/BugGuide. Photo by Jim Moore. (MBP list)

Maize Calligrapher in Prince George's Co., Maryland (9/5/2020). (c) Katja Schulz, some rights reserved (CC BY). Photo by Katja Schulz via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Maize Calligrapher in Montgomery Co., Maryland (7/25/2020). (c) Katja Schulz, some rights reserved (CC BY). Photo by Katja Schulz via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

A Maize Calligrapher in Prince George's Co., Maryland (8/18/2016). Determined by John S. Ascher/BugGuide. Photo by Barbara Thurlow. (MBP list)

A Maize Calligrapher in Baltimore Co., Maryland (9/2/2018). Verified by Ken Wolgemuth/BugGuide. Photo by Pauline Horn. (MBP list)

A Maize Calligrapher in Howard Co., Maryland (7/28/2019). Determined by Ken Wolgemuth/BugGuide. Photo by Kurt Schwarz. (MBP list)

A Maize Calligrapher in Washington Co., Maryland (8/16/2020). Photo by Mark Etheridge. (MBP list)

Maize Calligrapher in Montgomery Co., Maryland (8/24/2020). (c) Katja Schulz, some rights reserved (CC BY). Photo by Katja Schulz via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Maize Calligrapher in Montgomery Co., Maryland (8/24/2020). (c) Katja Schulz, some rights reserved (CC BY). Photo by Katja Schulz via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Maize Calligrapher in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (9/15/2015). Identification verified by Bill Dean/BugGuide. Photo by Timothy Reichard. (MBP list)

A Maize Calligrapher in Kent Co., Maryland (9/30/2018). Verified by Ken Wolgemuth/BugGuide. Photo by Jim Moore. (MBP list)

A Maize Calligrapher in Baltimore City, Maryland (8/15/2016). Verified by Bill Dean/BugGuide. Photo by Thomas Wilson. (MBP list)

Maize Calligrapher in Montgomery Co., Maryland (8/24/2020). (c) Katja Schulz, some rights reserved (CC BY). Photo by Katja Schulz via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Maize Calligrapher in Montgomery Co., Maryland (8/11/2022). (c) Katja Schulz, some rights reserved (CC BY). Photo by Katja Schulz via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Maize Calligrapher in Montgomery Co., Maryland (8/24/2020). (c) Katja Schulz, some rights reserved (CC BY). Photo by Katja Schulz via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

A male Maize Calligrapher in Harford Co., Maryland (9/2/2011). Determined by Martin Hauser/BugGuide. Photo by Karolina Stutzman. (MBP list)

Maize Calligrapher in Prince George's Co., Maryland (8/16/2023). (c) Adrienne van den Beemt, some rights reserved (CC BY). Photo by Adrienne van den Beemt. (MBP list)

A female Maize Calligrapher in Montgomery Co., Maryland (8/16/2020). Verified by Bill Dean and Ken Wolgemuth via BugGuide. Photo by Jim Moore. (MBP list)

Maize Calligrapher in Harford Co., Maryland (8/14/2017). (c) richard crook, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by rwcrook via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Maize Calligrapher in Worcester Co., Maryland (8/9/2013). Verified by V. Belov and Ken Wolgemuth/BugGuide. Photo by Scott Housten. (MBP list)

A Maize Calligrapher in Charles Co., Maryland (7/30/2017). Determined by Ken Woglemuth/BugGuide. Photo by William Wise. (MBP list)


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