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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Flies (Diptera) » "Aschiza" » Hover Flies (Syrphidae) » Eristalinae » Merodontini » Merodon » Narcissus Bulb Fly (Merodon equestris)

Species Merodon equestris - Narcissus Bulb Fly

Classification · Other Common Names · Synonyms and other taxonomic changes · Size · Identification · Range · Season · Food · Life Cycle · Remarks · Works Cited
Bee to ID - Merodon equestris - female Narcissis Bulb Fly- - Merodon equestris - male Merodon equestris Unknown insect - Merodon equestris HF-2316-2318-2319 - Merodon equestris Fly 8794 & 8707 - Merodon equestris - male - Merodon equestris - male Bee fly inside my house - Merodon equestris
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Diptera (Flies)
No Taxon ("Aschiza")
Family Syrphidae (Hover Flies)
Subfamily Eristalinae
Tribe Merodontini
Genus Merodon
Species equestris (Narcissus Bulb Fly)
Other Common Names
Large Narcissus Fly, Greater Bulb Fly, Large Bulb Fly
Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Merodon equestris (Fabricius)
Orig. Comb: Syrphus equestris Fabricius 1794
Size
12-14 mm(1)
Identification
Color variable:

eyes meet at the frons in males (below left), separated in females (below right), but the difference is not visible from behind

Wing veins include a pattern that resembles a sock:
Range
native to Europe, adventive and now widespread in North America (wherever daffodils (Narcissus spp. are grown), Japan, and Australasia(1)(2)
Season
mostly: April-July (BG data)
Food
Larvae live in and feed upon plant bulbs; adults nectar widely (BG data)
Life Cycle
overwinters as large maggot(2)
Remarks
locally important pest of daffodils (Narcissus spp.)(1); accidentally introduced in the US, probably with bulbs
Works Cited
1.Pests of ornamental trees, shrubs and flowers: a colour handbook. 2nd ed.
Alford D.V. 2012. Academic Press. 480 pp.
2.Garden Insects of North America : The Ultimate Guide to Backyard Bugs (Princeton Field Guides)
Whitney Cranshaw. 2004. Princeton University Press.
Contributed by john and jane balaban on 20 September, 2004 - 9:27pm
Additional contributions by Hannah Nendick-Mason, Beatriz Moisset, Mike Quinn, v belov
Last updated 2 June, 2020 - 6:38am

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