Locust Blowfly - Stomorhina lunata
A distinctive mid-sized blowfly which is sometimes mistaken for a hoverfly or Muscid. It has a three dark stripes on the thorax and a strongly protruding lower face. Tergites 3 and 4 (apparent 2 and 3) have orange patches on the side in males, or grey dust patches in females.
Due to similar basic form and sexual dimorphism, it can sometimes be mistaken for The Face Fly (Musca autumnalis).
Adults are usually observed on umbellifers and other flowers.
June to October.
The larva of Stomorhina lunata is a predator of the egg pod of Acrididae (locusts). It is not thought that the species can use any British grasshoppers so UK records are all considered vagrants.
Once considered rare but now becoming more frequent in southern England. Found as far north as Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire.
Believed to be rare in VC55. The record from Narborough Bog is the first for VC55.
David Gould
Narborough Bog
11 August 2017
male, first for VC55
David Gould
Narborough Bog
11 August 2017
male, first for VC55
David Gould
Narborough Bog
11 August 2017
male, first for VC55
David Nicholls
Rutland Water, Egleton
14 October 2023
David Nicholls
Rutland Water, Egleton
14 October 2023
egaten
Thurlaston garden
11 September 2020
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Species profile
- Common names
- Locust Blowfly
- Species group:
- insect - true fly (Diptera)
- Kingdom:
- Animalia
- Order:
- Diptera
- Family:
- Calliphoridae
- Records on NatureSpot:
- 3
- First record:
- 11/08/2017 (Gould, David)
- Last record:
- 14/10/2023 (Nicholls, David)
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