Narcissus Bulb Fly - Merodon

Jim McKenney jimmckenney@jimmckenney.com
Tue, 30 Oct 2007 07:36:03 PDT
Jim Waddick wrote: "Can't say I have ever seen one here."

Count your blessings, Jim: the ones here love Lycoris. Years ago when I was
raising Lycoris from seed, the major problem for the very slow growing
seedlings was bulb fly predation. 

Susceptibility seems to vary from species to species of Lycoris. Stocks of
large-bulbed forms which are dividing vigorously vegetatively will not run
into trouble. Seedlings or comparatively frail species such as L. sanguinea
sometimes go down quickly to bulb fly infestation. 

It has often puzzled me that Lycoris sanquinea, which has been known to be
hardy in New England for more than a century, has never become a common
garden plant here in the eastern states. Bulb fly might be the answer. 



Jim McKenney
jimmckenney@jimmckenney.com
Montgomery County, Maryland, USA, USDA zone 7, where Biarum tenuifolium is
starting to bloom. 

My Virtual Maryland Garden http://www.jimmckenney.com/

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