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Large narcissus bulb fly (Merodon equestris)

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large narcissus bulb fly (Merodon equestris) I posted this as a ‘none question’ but decided to take a picture and post it as a blog too.

Today checking pots of established bulbs I came across this pest for the first time, about 1.5 cm long and 4mm fat and cream in colour.

Absolutely disgusting and that is my thumb in the picture to give you an idea of size.

I must have lost about 10 bulbs. The adult looks like a bee from a distance apparently. I had an educational trip to the RHS website for info.

Worth checking your bulbs folks.

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Comments

 

Yuk. Only clicked like for the info not the critters...

30 Oct, 2015

 

strangely fascinating in a macabre way. :o)

30 Oct, 2015

 

Oh, nasty!

30 Oct, 2015

 

Not nice!

30 Oct, 2015

 

Yuk!!! thats the side of gardening I do not like, would never occur to me that a creature like that would be the cause of bulbs disappearing, thanks Seaburn, if I pluck up the courage I'll check my pots ,lol....

31 Oct, 2015

 

Hi Sbg, I agree with Stera and Lincslass, YUK, Derek.

31 Oct, 2015

 

They are nasty little "critters", aren't they? The smaller variety of this fly was responsible for my chucking away a good few of my Amaryllis bulbs I had grown for the first time down on Gerry's allotment.

I thought during the summer some of the Amaryllis plants didn't look too good but being occupied with other tasks on the plot I didn't really give them a close look. When I dug them up to bring home at the end of September I found the poorly looking bulbs had a hole drilled into the bulbs. I had no idea what pest was responsible but the next year I left them in their pots up on a bench. I later discovered that the Narcissus Fly was the culprit! In fact I believe someone on GoY gave me the answer - without my asking I think! :-)) They were growing alongside some Daffodils Gerry grows for cut flowers.

29 Dec, 2015

 

Thanks for directing me to this blog Eileen. They are horrible :( I have never seen them but will keep an eye out in case they are lurking somewhere.

14 Oct, 2019

 

I never had any more problems with these flies since I put them on some shelving instead of in the ground.

On the balcony I have never had problems with these flies even though most years I grow Daffodils but perhaps in this case neither Daffodils nor Amaryllis coincide at the same time on the balcony.

17 Oct, 2019

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