Merodon equestris

Merodon equestris (Narcissus bulb fly, greater bulb fly, large bulb fly, large Narcissus fly)[1] is a Holarctic species of hoverfly (Family Syrphidae).[2][3][4] [5][6][7] Like many other hoverflies it displays a colouration pattern similar to a stinging insect (a bumblebee in this case) as an evolutionary defense mechanism. Other syrphid bee mimics are Mallota, Arctophila, Criorhina, Pocota and Brachypalpus. Merodon species are distinguished from these by the very strong hind femora, which bear a large triangular projection on the underside near the tip. It flies in low vegetation while the other bumblebee mimics prefer higher vegetation layers.

Merodon equestris
grooming
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Class:
Insecta
Order:
Diptera
Family:
Syrphidae
Genus:
Merodon
Species:
M. equestris
Binomial name
Merodon equestris
(Fabricius, 1794)
Synonyms

Description

A stout fly with a small head. 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.[8] The larva is described and figured by Hodson (1932) [9] and it is illustrated in colour by Rotheray (1993).[10]

Distribution

In the Palearctic it is found from Fennoscandia south to Iberia and the Mediterranean basin, and Ireland east through Europe into Russia and Japan. In the Nearctic it is found from British Columbia south to California. It has been introduced to New Zealand.

Biology

Habitat: Open areas in deciduous forest up into the subalpine zone but significantly synanthropic, occurring in suburban parks and gardens and on horticultural land.[11] 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,[12] while the larvae feed internally in tissues of bulbs of Liliaceae, and they are regarded as a horticultural pest, especially of Narcissus. A bibliography of the literature on the biology of M.equestris is given by Barkemeyer (1994)[13]

Colour forms
  • var. equestris (female)
  • var. narcissi (male)
  • var. validus (female)
gollark: That sounds exactly like what TJ09 would do.
gollark: They shall pile up forever. I consider myself relatively good at cave hunting, and I have piles of xenowyrms anyway.
gollark: (honestly, I doubt TJ09 bothered to cap the prices)
gollark: Okay then, a few possibilities:* the pricing does **not** adjust very fast, so people with enough shards will get them quickly, then the price will skyrocket after the first group do* the pricing does adjust fast, so the price climbs 100 shards a week and a few lucky people get them each week* either of those, but the price is capped somehow so it doesn't climb massively
gollark: No, 1312.

References
  1. "Hoverflies". Retrieved 2009-12-12.
  2. Stubbs, Alan E. & Falk, Steven J. (1983). British Hoverflies: An Illustrated Identification Guide. British Entomological & Natural History Society. pp. 253, xvpp.
  3. Van Veen, M. (2004) Hoverflies of Northwest Europe: identification keys to the Syrphidae. 256pp. KNNV Publishing, Utrecht.addendum
  4. Van der Goot,V.S. (1981) De zweefvliegen van Noordwest - Europa en Europees Rusland, in het bijzonder van de Benelux. KNNV, Uitgave no.32: 275pp. Amsterdam.
  5. Bei-Bienko, G.Y. & Steyskal, G.C. (1988) Keys to the Insects of the European Part of the USSR, Volume V: Diptera and Siphonaptera, Part I. Amerind Publishing Co., New Delhi. ISBN 81-205-0080-6.
  6. Coe, R.L. (1953) Diptera: Syrphidae. Handbks.ident.Br.insects, 10(1): 1-98. R.ent.Soc.London. pdf
  7. Peck, L.V. (1988) Syrphidae. In: Soos, A. & Papp, L. (eds.) Catalogue of Palaearctic Diptera, 8: 11-230. Akad.Kiado, Budapest.
  8. Bradescu, V. (1991) Les Syrphides de Roumanie (Diptera, Syrphidae), Clés de détermination et répartition. Trav.Mus.Hist. nat. Grigore Antipa, 31: 7-83.
  9. Hodson, W.E.H. (1932) The large narcissus fly, Merodon equestris, Fab. (Syrphidae). Bull.Ent.Res., 23: 429-448
  10. Rotheray G., 1993 Colour Guide to Hoverfly Larvae Diptera, Syrphidae in Britain and Europe Dipterists Forum pdf
  11. Speight, M.C.D. (2011). "Species accounts of European Syrphidae (Diptera)" (PDF). Syrph the Net, the Database of European Syrphidae. 65: 285pp.
  12. de Buck, N. (1990) Bloembezoek en bestuivingsecologie van Zweefvliegen (Diptera, Syrphidae) in het bijzonder voor elgië. Doc.Trav. IRSNB, no.60, 1-167.
  13. Barkemeyer, W. (1994) Untersuchung zum Vorkommen der Schwebfliegen in Niedersachsen und Bremen (Diptera: Syrphidae). Naturschutz und Landschaftspflege in Niedersachsen, 31: 1-514.

Media related to Merodon equestris at Wikimedia Commons

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.