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Narcissus bulb fly.
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Kildale
Showing Great Promise
Joined: 30 Mar 2009
Location: British Columbia
Posts: 459
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| Posted: Thu Sep 24, 2009 8:35 pm Post subject: Narcissus bulb fly. |
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It looks like a bee but it is a fly, the Narcissus bulb fly. it lays eggs on your bulbs and when they hatch, guess what is on the menu. A little tip to help is that when you pull out the leaves or flowers, run your hand over the soil to fill in the holes. These holes give the fly access to the bulbs. This is what it lools like.
( photo / image / picture from Kildale's Garden )
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eileen
Moderator & Resident Taxonomist
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Joined: 07 Feb 2005
Location: Scotland (Map)
Posts: 14179
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| Posted: Thu Sep 24, 2009 9:11 pm Post subject: |
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I must make sure that any bulbs I buy from now on are only from reputable nurseries or suppliers as I'd hate my bulbs to be invaded by the larva of this fly. 
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Netty
Chaotic Gardener
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Joined: 04 Nov 2006
Location: Southern Ontario zone 5a (Map)
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| Posted: Fri Sep 25, 2009 12:32 am Post subject: |
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Nice shot. I wonder if we have these bugs in Ontario?
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Jewell2009
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| Posted: Fri Sep 25, 2009 2:57 am Post subject: |
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Looks almost like a bee...
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If a you have but two pennies left in the world, buy a loaf of bread with one to sustain your life, and a flower with the other to give you a reason to live. ~Chinese Proverb
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Kildale
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Joined: 30 Mar 2009
Location: British Columbia
Posts: 459
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| Posted: Fri Sep 25, 2009 4:27 am Post subject: |
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Yes, like I mentioned, it does look like a bee. but it only has 2 wings.
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Jewell2009
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Location: Puget Sound Region of the Pacific NW (Washington State, US) (Map)
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| Posted: Fri Sep 25, 2009 4:32 am Post subject: |
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 It's really cool looking
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~Jewell
If a you have but two pennies left in the world, buy a loaf of bread with one to sustain your life, and a flower with the other to give you a reason to live. ~Chinese Proverb
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Kildale
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Joined: 30 Mar 2009
Location: British Columbia
Posts: 459
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| Posted: Fri Sep 25, 2009 4:39 am Post subject: |
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I take a lot of insect pics so here is another image of the bulb fly. Merodon equestris
Merodon equestris ( photo / image / picture from Kildale's Garden )
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Palustris
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| Posted: Fri Sep 25, 2009 7:29 am Post subject: |
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Saddest thing is that there is no treatment for the amateur. Professionals heat up the bulbs to and exact temeperature for an exact length of time to kill of the larva.
You can tell a bulb which has a grub in it,if you ently squeeze the bulb, if feels soft and 'squishy'. So ,youkow the answer, do not buy a soft narcissus bulb.
We have a major problem with them here, unfortunately as they also attack Snowdrops and as you know we have a few thousand of them.
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