NOON FLY or NOONDAY FLY (Mesembrina meridiana) Turvey Nature Reserve, Donabate, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland

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The Noon Fly (Mesembrina meridiana) or Noonday Fly is of the family Muscidae which is in the genus Mesembrina. This is a common and widespread medium sized fly with distinctive golden cheeks and amber wing bases. The female lays a single egg in up to five cow pats or dung and when the lava hatches, it predates the larvae of other species which are feeding within the dung. The flight season is from late April into October.

 

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

YELLOW BANDED CONOPS FLY or YELLOW BANDED BEE GRABBER (Conops quadrifasciatus) male Abbeyleix Bog, Abbeyleix, Co. Laois, Ireland

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The Yellow Banded Conpos Fly (Conops quadrifasciatus) or Yellow-banded Bee Grabber is of the family Conopidae which is in the genus Conops. This wasp mimic occurs in Europe and in parts of Western Asia. It is a parasite of Red Tailed Bumblebee (Bombus lapidarius) and other members of that genus.The female grabs onto a potential bumblebee host and lays a single egg on it. When the larva hatches, it enters the host and becomes an endoparisite which eventually leads to mortality of the host and then the adult emerges from it. Nectar as well as pollen are its food source and the flight season is from June into September.

 

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

DOWNLOOKER SNIPEFLY (Rhagio scolopaceus) male typically found resting facing downwards on tree trunks, fence posts or walls Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland

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The Downlooker Snipefly (Rhagio scolopaceus) or Downlooker Snipe Fly is of the family Rhagionidae which is in the genus Rhagio.
Length 8 to 16 mm. This common species preys upon a wide variety of flies caught on the wing. Pollen is also eaten. Hedgerows, woodland rides and clearings with associated damp meadows are its typical habitats. The flight season is from early May to mid August. The larval stage, which occurs in soil and woodland detritus, feeds on earthworms as well as beetle larvae.

 

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

NOON FLY or NOONDAY FLY (Mesembrina meridiana) Turvey Nature Reserve, Donabate, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland

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The Noon Fly (Mesembrina meridiana) or Noonday Fly is of the family Muscidae which is in the genus Mesembrina. This is a common and widespread medium sized fly with distinctive golden cheeks and amber wing bases. The female lays a single egg in up to five cow pats or dung and when the lava hatches, it predates the larvae of other species which are feeding within the dung. The flight season is from late April into October.

 

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

TWIN LOBED DEERFLY (Chrysops relictus) Lullymore West Bog, IPCC Nature Reserve, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland

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The Twin Lobed Deerfly (Chrysops relictus) is of the family Tabanidae which is in the genus Chrysops.This biting fly is commonly found in western and northern Europe including Britain and Ireland. Its on the wing from early May to late September, peaking in July.

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds