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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)
Photo#919698
Fly (?) that can hover well, that has landed on a Phlox pilosa blossom. It was only resting. It was not feeding. - Merodon equestris
Copyright © 2014 Egarrity

Fly (?) that can hover well, that has landed on a Phlox pilosa blossom. It was only resting. It was not feeding. - Merodon equestris
Alexandria, Virginia, USA
May 11, 2014
It can hover well and I could hear it buzzing around. It kept coming back to a patch of Phlox pilosa where I was able to take some pictures of it. This was the best picture. It shows two little objects projecting from its face.
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Contributed by Egarrity on 11 May, 2014 - 10:07pm
Last updated 11 June, 2017 - 9:33am

Thank you!
Thank you for your help. This is a great site and you guys provide a great service!

Eddie
… Egarrity, 14 May, 2014 - 12:20am login or register to post comments

Moved
Moved from ID Request.

You're right - Merodon equestris. Note the curved R4+5, open r1 cell, and swelling below the antennae rather than further down the face.
… Kelsey J.R.P. Byers, 11 May, 2014 - 11:23pm login or register to post comments

Thank you for the ID
That must be it - Merodon equestris (Narcissus Bulb Fly). There is a small patch of daffodils not far from where the picture was taken and it is a fairly sunny location which some references say is a preference for this fly. Comparing the fly I saw to pictures of other Merodon equestris flies, this one appears to be a male.

Thanks,
Ed
… Egarrity, 11 May, 2014 - 10:44pm login or register to post comments

Syrphid
Maybe this one:



The objects projecting from its face are its antennae.
… Ken Wolgemuth, 11 May, 2014 - 10:14pm login or register to post comments

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