St Mark's Fly

Geociao2011 · #1 (**permalink**) 12-08-2011, 10:38 AM

I am looking at clouds of St Mark's Flies over my garden and adjacent field. I know they are not legally bound to 25 April each year, however today is 12 August? I live in the North East Scotland, so we are a little late in our seasons, but St Mark's day was a long time ago.

Does anyone know why they are so late in the year?

htcdude · #2 (**permalink**) 12-08-2011, 10:44 AM

Hi Geociao2011,

Welcome to the forum

Are you sure they're not flying ants?

Nige

Dillybythesea · #3 (**permalink**) 12-08-2011, 12:25 PM

Or maybe Heather flies, Bibio pomonae, which I think are very similar to St Mark's flies but with red legs? As Nige said, welcome to WAB!

Geociao2011 · #4 (**permalink**) 12-08-2011, 02:57 PM

Thank you for the replies, although I can identify flying ants. I now know they are Heather Flies, I managed to get close to one on a wall and it clearly had red legs. Plus Heather Flies are common in August.

I am unsure why I have never seen so many in my garden before. My moind is, however, at rest. Thank you both again.