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TranslatePollenia rudis
BTB Pollenia rudis (Fabricius, 1794)
Length: varies, 8 to 11mm
Family: Polleniidae (Cluster Flies)
Adults (All Year round)
Species of the Polleniidae family are very hard to tell apart, so below maybe not all the images below are of Pollenia rudis. Being that P. rudis is the most common, I have decided to put them all under the same Species, if you know otherwise, please do not hesitate to let me know your thoughts. I do know to be 100% on the exact species then a microscopic examination is required. As with many fly species, the female’s eyes are set wider apart at the crown, than the male’s eyes. Also appearances of colourings and texture of the hairs can change through age.
Polleniidae rudis is normally the most common species of fly throughout Europe, United States, Canada and into Asia. Known as “cluster flies”, because they tend to hibernate together in large numbers, in most man-made buildings, especially undisturbed places like attics and out-buildings. They can be very annoying sometimes, as they have no fear of humans and will quite happily land on you to suck the fluids off the surface of your skin, (be it blood or sweat).
When temperatures drop, they will tend to take shelter in various buildings and natural crevices found in trees and rocks.
Pollenia rudis eggs are oblong-shaped, very small and white in colour. P. rudis larvae are white with posterior spiracles. It can take up to 10 to 12 months for an egg to develop into an adult, resulting in one generation a year. (Depending on the temperature; with warmer conditions this process from egg to adult can be reduced dramatically). Once a Larva hatches, it has up to three days to find a host worm, if it fails it will die.
The larvae parasitise earthworms (Allolobophora genera, also known by the genus name: Aporrectodea).
P. rudis adults feed on many types of organic matter, stems of plants for the sap, fruit, flowers, carrion and faeces.
Spechid wasps and ants prey on the larvae of P. rudis, other main predators of larvae and adults, are birds.
Read MoreLength: varies, 8 to 11mm
Family: Polleniidae (Cluster Flies)
Adults (All Year round)
Species of the Polleniidae family are very hard to tell apart, so below maybe not all the images below are of Pollenia rudis. Being that P. rudis is the most common, I have decided to put them all under the same Species, if you know otherwise, please do not hesitate to let me know your thoughts. I do know to be 100% on the exact species then a microscopic examination is required. As with many fly species, the female’s eyes are set wider apart at the crown, than the male’s eyes. Also appearances of colourings and texture of the hairs can change through age.
Polleniidae rudis is normally the most common species of fly throughout Europe, United States, Canada and into Asia. Known as “cluster flies”, because they tend to hibernate together in large numbers, in most man-made buildings, especially undisturbed places like attics and out-buildings. They can be very annoying sometimes, as they have no fear of humans and will quite happily land on you to suck the fluids off the surface of your skin, (be it blood or sweat).
When temperatures drop, they will tend to take shelter in various buildings and natural crevices found in trees and rocks.
Pollenia rudis eggs are oblong-shaped, very small and white in colour. P. rudis larvae are white with posterior spiracles. It can take up to 10 to 12 months for an egg to develop into an adult, resulting in one generation a year. (Depending on the temperature; with warmer conditions this process from egg to adult can be reduced dramatically). Once a Larva hatches, it has up to three days to find a host worm, if it fails it will die.
The larvae parasitise earthworms (Allolobophora genera, also known by the genus name: Aporrectodea).
P. rudis adults feed on many types of organic matter, stems of plants for the sap, fruit, flowers, carrion and faeces.
Spechid wasps and ants prey on the larvae of P. rudis, other main predators of larvae and adults, are birds.
