Merodon equestris

Merodon equestris
Grooming
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Diptera
Family:	Syrphidae
Genus:	Merodon
Species:	M. equestris
Binomial name
Merodon equestris (Fabricius, 1794)
Distribution map
Synonyms
Eristalis narcissi Fabricius, 1805 Merodon narcissi (Fabricius, 1805) Merodon transversalis Meigen, 1822 Merodon validus Wiedemann, 1822 Syrphus equestris Fabricius, 1794

Merodon equestris (Narcissus bulb fly, greater bulb fly, large bulb fly, large Narcissus fly)

A stout fly with a small head (10-14 mm in length).[9] The tergites are black, without the dust spots or blue-purple sheen of other Merodon species. The thorax and abdomen are hidden by dense, long, erect hairs of variable colouration. Tibia 3 of the male has 2 spurs at the apex.^[10] The larva is described and figured by Hodson (1932) ^[11] and it is illustrated in colour by Rotheray (1993).^[12]

Distribution

In the

They inhabit open areas in deciduous forest up into the subalpine zone but significantly synanthropic, occurring in suburban parks and gardens and on horticultural land.^[13] The adult flies low in April to July with a fast zig-zag flight, among ground vegetation frequently settling on bare ground. Adult M. equestris feed on pollen and nectar. They visit a large variety of flowers for nectar,^[14] while the larvae feed internally in tissues of bulbs of Amaryllidaceae, and they are regarded as a horticultural pest, especially of Narcissus. Females lay 1 egg at a time on leaves of this plant (or in soil by it). Larvae overwinter in the bulbs.^[9] A bibliography of the literature on the biology of M. equestris is given by Barkemeyer (1994).^[15]

Colour forms

• 
  var. equestris (female)
• 
  var. narcissi (male)
• 
  var. validus (female)

References