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09/05/2008, 19:18 FairyNuff Joined on 06/11/2007 Indre Posts 25 Big black flies?? Having finally managed to get into the garden for lunch in the sunshine the other day, we were astonished to be "buzzed" by what appeared to be a huge black fly. It was rather like the Hercules of the fly world, bigger than a bumble bee, black and shiny, very loud buzz. Are they dangerous, should we be wary of them, or are they harmless? We're in the Indre. FairyNuff Do I come here often?    Report

09/05/2008, 20:03 Callie Joined on 19/04/2008 Near Saumur (49) Posts 141 Re: Big black flies?? I've no idea what they are really called, but they are perfectly harmless. They patrol the walls of the house just below the roof and make a great deal of noise. We've always called them Lancaster Bombers !    Report

09/05/2008, 20:21 Ron Avery Joined on 29/11/2004 Posts 3,102 Re: Big black flies?? Probably a capenter bee http://www.completefrance.com/cs/forums/1167732/ShowPost.aspx I found a strange looking beetle the other day in some leaves that had fallen into a bucket, it was quite big, about 0.5"long, looked a bit like half an acorn both in colour and shape but on the side of its head it had two antenna shaped like small toothbrushes.  Any ideas as to species? Why not just post a sensible answer, people will appreciate it more    Report

09/05/2008, 21:49 chris pp Joined on 30/08/2005 Vienne '86' Posts 1,684 Re: Big black flies?? Cockchafer-Melolontha melolontha Chris http://www.planetepassion.com Association Planete Passion - French Wildlife in the English Language    Report

09/05/2008, 21:56 Clair Joined on 23/08/2004 ------- Forum Moderator ------- Lot Posts 6,275 Re: Big black flies?? Hannetons??? How I hate these beasts..... When I was a child, my not-so-lovely siblings used to throw them in my hair, where they would get all tangled up and buzz away madly.... yuk! Clair, a Real Virtual French Person La vérité est si obscurcie en ce temps et le mensonge si établi, qu'à moins d'aimer la vérité, on ne saurait la reconnaître. (Blaise Pascal)    Report

France Forum » French Culture » Wildlife/Nature... » Re: Big black flies??

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