CLOSED: Bee or fly?

This one was very patient while I got my camera, took a few pics, then he flew away.

Front view.

Another...

It's a fly in the family Syrphidae.

In fact it is a Narcissus bulb fly, or just Bulb fly as they attack other bulbs too.

Merodon equestris var. flavicans (male) is the one, there are 4 subspecies of which I have had all!

http://www.diptera.info/photogallery.php?album_id=49&rowstart=240

So, should I kill it next time I see it? Or leave it "bee"? (Sorry, I couldn't help myself.)

Lol, I coldn't kill them, they are too pretty! I had plenty of oppurtunity as they spent at least 6 minutes mating!

Control of the narcissus bulb fly is not easy. The insect has few natural enemies. Catching the flies in an insect net and destroying them should also help to decrease the population (each female destroyed means 100 potential maggots are destroyed).

to read the entire article... click the link...

http://ipm.ncsu.edu/AG136/fly4.html

I have bulbs so maybe I'll spray? I don't want to kill anything else I might want. Best suggestion?

how many invaders do you have..??... small problem calls for a small solution...just hand-kill if just a few. I would do a search for details on best pesticide for this specific problem.... My best 'guess' would be to use a soil-drench with a systemic pesticide (like Isotox), just on the bulbs, themselves... this would have minimal impact on surrounding environment... I think there is a forum for these problems, too.

I've only seen a couple and not around where the bulbs are.

They are supposed to lay eggs at the neck of the bulb between the foliage, the grub then descends to the bulb and eats it. I found a fat grub in the side of a small hippeastrum bulb which was in a greenhouse but taken inside over winter. Some time ago in this spring I saw a mature fly in the same greenhouse, I went to grab my camera which was nearby but it had disappeared. There is a toad living in there so it might have got it.

There are many predators, I haven't noticed a serious lack of bulbs in the garden so far but the Gladiolus communis byzantinus seem to have dwindled with only two in flower this year, there was definitely more growing last year that should be there now.

Today it is hot here, yesterday was up to 82F too and my pretty bulb flies turned up today! There was a mating session too, but I had to let them get on with it, lol, she was upside down. I like the two little feet sticking out the back!

OH, Wallaby! LOL That's cute! I have a new camera that should be delivered today. Maybe can get better pics.

I did notice there were a few Narcissus "Tete-de-Tete" that didn't come up this spring. I'll dig and see what I can find.

And they are cute.

I have plenty of N. Tete-a-tete and some struggled for a few years but eventually started to grow well. The best patch increased well from the outset, they are in a drier spot next to a small deciduous shrub which will take up the moisture in summer. Those which didn't so well are in a more shaded and wetter spot.

My narcissus has died off ages ago so it's not likely they will be bothered, they need foliage and a neck to get between to lay eggs.

Good luck with the pics, keep the bugs and they will provide hours of entertainment you will get nowhere else, lol.

I like you. You're fun! LOL

LOL, thanks!