[pbs] Narcissus flies

totototo at telus.net totototo at telus.net
Fri Aug 8 12:41:00 EDT 2008


The large narcissus fly is Merodon equistris. There are at least two species of 
"lesser narcissus fly", Eumerus strigatus and E. tuburculatus.

The online literature, last time I checked, was rather vague on the subject, 
but it appears that other species of both Merodon and Eumerus also attack 
amaryllidaceous bulbs.


Mary Sue asked if narcissus flies attack non-amaryllidaceous bulbs. The 
received wisdom is that they will but only opportunistically when they can't 
find anything tastier to munch on. I have seen them myself in a bulb of a 
potted garden hyacinth.


See for more information:

http://whatcom.wsu.edu/ag/homehort/pest/bulbflies.htm


-- 
Rodger Whitlock
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
Maritime Zone 8, a cool Mediterranean climate

on beautiful Vancouver Island


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