Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum

Bulbs => Bulbs General => Topic started by: mark smyth on October 08, 2009, 10:55:54 AM

Title: Lesser Narcissus fly
Post by: mark smyth on October 08, 2009, 10:55:54 AM

Since I found Lesser Narcissus fly grubs in a bulb I have kept them with the bulb in a camera film case beside my monitor. This morning they are climbing the sides. I guess that by keeping them inside they have grown very quickly and want to pupate. In a few weeks I'll have a good idea of what they look like.

Title: Re: Lesser Narcissus fly
Post by: Lesley Cox on October 12, 2009, 08:35:52 PM

I'm relying on you for good pics of the adults Mark.

Title: Re: Lesser Narcissus fly
Post by: mark smyth on October 12, 2009, 08:54:09 PM

That's the idea, Lesley. All grubs/maggots have now left the unrecognisable bulb and gone underground. Specimen bottles come in handy for other things

Title: Re: Lesser Narcissus fly
Post by: mark smyth on October 13, 2009, 01:28:23 PM

I found more today which isnt good.

Title: Re: Lesser Narcissus fly
Post by: Rodger Whitlock on October 13, 2009, 05:16:56 PM

Quote from: mark smyth on October 13, 2009, 01:28:23 PM

I found more today which isnt good.

My limited experience with the lesser narcissus fly revealed that there are a great many grubs in one bulb. This is in marked contrast to the greater narcissus fly, which rarely has more than one grub to the bulb.

One wonders if they bit a hole into the space time continuum to connect with an alternate universe filled with L.N.F. grubs, which then leak through to join their brethren in this universe.

Title: Re: Lesser Narcissus fly
Post by: Maggi Young on November 22, 2009, 04:33:20 PM

 Narcissus Fly: see also these pages :

http://www.srgc.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=4405.0 

http://www.srgc.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=1850.0

http://www.srgc.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=204.0

http://www.srgc.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=3690.0 .... latest page

Title: Re: Lesser Narcissus fly
Post by: mark smyth on November 23, 2009, 01:14:53 PM

The first Lesser Narcissus fly hatched today. They are very small, brown and only 5mm long. I have no idea how we can look for them among our bulbs. When it's wings expand and dry I'll torture it to make it buzz.  :o

Title: Re: Lesser Narcissus fly
Post by: mark smyth on November 23, 2009, 02:12:05 PM

here it is

Title: Re: Lesser Narcissus fly
Post by: mark smyth on December 05, 2009, 10:33:58 PM

sad news :(. The fly couldnt handle the fridge anymore. It died today. I'll be able to get good photos now.

Title: Re: Lesser Narcissus fly
Post by: Hans J on December 06, 2009, 11:24:05 AM

Hi all ,

not so good news from me ....
Yesterday I found on one of my pots also such a animal ( I have in winter a lot of pots with seedlings in my room ,together with some evergreen Hippeastrum and some plants from southern hemisphere for changing her cycle )

I enclose here a pic ( sorry not so perfect )

Now my questions :
Is this a adult fly which comes from outside to lay eggs on my plants ?
Or is this a young fly which comes from one of my pots ?

It is for me the first time that I have seen this animal ( I know only the larvae )
This animal was very slow ( not flying ) - so no problem to catch it .

Any ideas ?

Title: Re: Lesser Narcissus fly
Post by: Gerdk on December 06, 2009, 12:01:03 PM

Hans,
The season for narcissus flies outside is spring - it seems your fly is your own breeding forced by artificial heat.

Gerd

Title: Re: Lesser Narcissus fly
Post by: partisangardener on December 06, 2009, 12:22:09 PM

Freshly hatched flies are usually very slow and mostly unable to fly. This very young ones are not jet able to breed. ;D

Title: Re: Lesser Narcissus fly
Post by: Hans J on December 06, 2009, 12:26:16 PM

 ??? ??? ???

this means that there anywhere in a bulb are more ?.....but until all plants looks well  :-\

Is this a bigger or a lesser fly ?

Thank you to all !

Title: Re: Lesser Narcissus fly
Post by: mark smyth on December 06, 2009, 12:37:55 PM

This is a Narcissus fly. What has happened is the adult laid eggs during May, June and July on your plants. The grub feeds all summer and possibly during winter if the ground temperature is warm enough. Just like the Lesser Narcissus fly I have in a bottle beside the computer the maggot thinks spring has arrived and emerges. They are slow when they appear above ground.

Title: Re: Lesser Narcissus fly
Post by: Hans J on December 06, 2009, 12:51:41 PM

Thanks Mark !

But it is still a puzzle for me from where this animal comes .....

Title: Re: Lesser Narcissus fly
Post by: mark smyth on December 06, 2009, 01:25:20 PM

Hans is was eating one of your bulbs. With big bulbs like Amaryllis the damage is not obvious like when they eat a snowdrop bulb. What will happen, I think, is a plant will not flower next year. Every time I find a maggot it is in the middle of the bulb

Title: Re: Lesser Narcissus fly
Post by: mark smyth on December 06, 2009, 01:26:09 PM

Two new photos of a Lesser Narcissus fly

Title: Re: Lesser Narcissus fly
Post by: David Nicholson on December 06, 2009, 08:25:37 PM

"look matey, I know a dead Lesser Narcissus Fly when I see one, and I'm looking at one right now" ;D

Title: Re: Lesser Narcissus fly
Post by: Lesley Cox on December 06, 2009, 08:32:18 PM

I can't think of it as "sad news" that the damn thing diesd ???

Title: Re: Lesser Narcissus fly
Post by: mark smyth on December 06, 2009, 08:47:49 PM

no food for a week and stuck in a fridge .. and next year everyone will know what a lesser fly looks like when summer comes round again

Title: Re: Lesser Narcissus fly
Post by: David Nicholson on December 07, 2009, 12:17:58 PM

Quote from: David Nicholson on December 06, 2009, 08:25:37 PM

"look matey, I know a dead Lesser Narcissus Fly when I see one, and I'm looking at one right now" ;D

Mmmmmm, I'm a bit disappointed with some of you lot I did expect at least the next line :P

Title: Re: Lesser Narcissus fly
Post by: Maggi Young on December 07, 2009, 12:29:10 PM

Sorry, David.........

....No no he's not dead, he's....... he's restin'! Remarkable fly, the Lesser narcissus, ain't it , eh? Beautiful plumage!

Title: Re: Lesser Narcissus fly
Post by: David Nicholson on December 07, 2009, 12:30:41 PM

You got it Maggi, you've restored my faith ;D

Title: Re: Lesser Narcissus fly
Post by: Luc Gilgemyn on December 07, 2009, 12:42:09 PM

Somehow, this makes me think of parrots ??  ??? ::) ;D

Title: Re: Lesser Narcissus fly
Post by: Diane Clement on December 07, 2009, 01:41:16 PM

Quote from: Maggi Young on December 07, 2009, 12:29:10 PM

Sorry, David.........    ....No no he's not dead, he's....... he's restin'! Remarkable fly, the Lesser narcissus, ain't it , eh? Beautiful plumage!   

Oh, that's got to be a cue for a video ...  (for all those who don't know what this is all about, and for all those who do, but can't resist!)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=npjOSLCR2hE&NR=1&feature=fvwp (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=npjOSLCR2hE&NR=1&feature=fvwp)

Title: Re: Lesser Narcissus fly
Post by: David Nicholson on December 07, 2009, 05:16:10 PM

 ;D ;D ;D

Title: Re: Lesser Narcissus fly
Post by: Lesley Cox on December 07, 2009, 08:50:53 PM

Thanks Diane. I did see it years ago but had clean forgotten it. ;D ;D