Pollenia rudis
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| Cluster fly | ||||||||||||||||||||
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 male Pollenia on Schizophyllum commune fungus growing on Betula
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| Scientific classification | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| Pollenia rudis Fabricius, 1794 |
The Common cluster fly Pollenia rudis is a member of the blowfly family Calliphoridae. Unlike other blowflies the cluster fly does not present much of a health hazard, because they do not feed on or lay eggs on human food. The larvae being parasitic on earthworms of the genus Allolobophthora, eating their hosts over a period of several months. The adult flies feed on nectar of flowers during the summer months. Over wintering adults do not normally feed. There are three to four generations per year.
The do however present a considerable nuisance when the adults emerge in the late summer or early autumn and enter houses and out-houses to hibernate, often in considerable numbers if homes are near grassed areas that have large populations of earthworms, like fields, golf courses, large lawns, sports fields, and cemeteries. They are difficult to eradicate being a larger insect and favouring inaccessible spaces.
[edit] Description
The cluster fly is a medium sized fly of about 6 to 8 mm long. Brownish-black in colour with dense coverings of short golden-coloured hairs on the sides of the thorax. Some times these hairs may get rubbed off as the fly ages, leaving only yellow side tufts. There are lines or stripes behind the head. The fly overlaps its wing tips over the abdomen at rest
[edit] Distribution
This is a very common and widespread species. Found in Europe and some parts of Asia, as far East as Arabia, Canada and most parts of the United States
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