Locust Blow Fly

Stomorhina lunata

Description

Over all length 8 - 10mm. Looks superficially like a hoverfly. The male has orange on segments three and four, in the female they are greyer. The face protrudes to a point.

Habitat

Adults are normally seen feeding from flowers, often umbellifers. The larvae predate the eggs of the Locust, so any adults seen in Britain will be migrants.

Status and distribution

Rare migrant to the south and east of England, although there is one record from the north of Scotland. First record for the reserve was in 2014, but by 2020 there were several records.

  • Locust Blow-fly - Stomorhina lunata - male - 5th November 2014

  • Locust Blow-fly - Stomorhina lunata - male - 5th November 2014

  • Locust Blow-fly - Stomorhina lunata - male - 5th November 2014

  • Locust Blow-fly - Stomorhina lunata - male - 5th November 2014

  • Locust Blow-fly - Stomorhina lunata - male - 19th July 2020

  • Locust Blow-fly - Stomorhina lunata - male - 9th August 2020

  • Locust Blow-fly - Stomorhina lunata - male - 1st July 2020

  • Locust Blow-fly - Stomorhina lunata - male - 23rd July 2023

  • Locust Blow-fly - Stomorhina lunata - male - 23rd July 2023

  • Locust Blow-fly - Stomorhina lunata - male - 30th July 2023