Noon Fly

The Noon Fly is a large fly with a jet-black body and a distinctive orange-yellow patch on the base of its wings, on its feet and on its face. There is also a pale coloured patch on the face between the reddish-brown eyes.

Adults can be found between late April and late October, in well wooded and well vegetated areas. They are usually seen sunbathing on plant leaves, fences, trees, walls and sometimes on the ground. They feed on nectar and pollen of plant flowers, or on overripe berries.

The Noon Fly lays its eggs in cow dung. It is ovoviviparous and the eggs hatch prior or within an hour after being deposited. The female lays up to five eggs in a lifetime, each one in a different pat and at two day intervals. The larvae are carnivorous and feed on other fly larvae within the dung.

Common and widespread throughout Britain.