Narcissus bulb fly
Merodon equestris
13 mmAdult individual · płeć nieokreślona
Body length
Body length
od przodu głowy do końca odwłoka · bez czułków, nóg i wystających skrzydełMeasurement: side
Narcissus bulb fly — size comparison
The narcissus bulb fly is a hairy fly that may resemble a bumblebee. Different colour forms combine pale, reddish and dark hairs in different ways. It occurs in
Silhouette comparison
Length
od przodu głowy do końca odwłoka · bez czułków, nóg i wystających skrzydełScale for the stated dimensions · each animal is labelled
Measurement comparisonScale in cm
0246810
13 mm
8.56 cm
The scale compares the named dimensions. View direction and measurement points are given for each animal.
Narcissus bulb fly — size comparison — facts and sources
The narcissus bulb fly is a hairy fly that may resemble a bumblebee. Different colour forms combine pale, reddish and dark hairs in different ways. It occurs in warm, sheltered places with flowers, including gardens and areas with bulbous plants.
Adults visit flowers for nectar. Their resemblance to stinging hymenopterans is mimicry, but the bulb fly is a true fly with one wing pair. Identification also uses leg and venation details, as other hairy hoverflies may look similar.
The larva develops inside a bulb, eating its tissues. It may use narcissi and other bulbous plants, spending winter within its sheltered food source. Adults appear mainly in warmer months; the visible flower-visiting stage is much shorter than larval development.