# Noon Fly (*Mesembrina meridiana*)

The Noon Fly is a small, friendly insect that loves to fly around during the day. It has a shiny body and often rests on flowers, making it easy to spot in gardens.

- **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Urban areas

![Noon Fly](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Black-orange_fly.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Simon A. Eugster, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Black-orange_fly.jpg)

## Appearance

The Noon Fly is a stout, black fly, distinguished by its bright orange face and the yellow-orange tip of its abdomen. Its thorax features two faint, orange-yellow stripes. Its wings are clear with dark veins.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Animalia
- **Phylum:** Arthropoda
- **Class:** Insecta
- **Order:** Diptera
- **Family:** Muscidae
- **Genus:** Mesembrina

## Interesting facts

- Even though they look tough, Noon Flies are completely harmless to humans.
- Noon Flies love basking in the sun to warm up, just like you might!
- Their babies grow up inside cow dung, turning messy waste into soil food.
- These flies have tiny hairs all over them, perfect for picking up pollen!

## Special abilities

- **Sun Seeker:** Noon Fly has specialized eyes that help them quickly find warm, sunny spots to feed and rest, even on cooler days.
- **Nutrient Recycler:** Noon Fly larvae can break down organic matter like dung, transforming waste into nutrients for the soil.
- **Flower Friend:** Noon Fly can carry pollen between flowers on its hairy body, helping plants grow new seeds and fruits.

## Measurements & details

- **Wingspan:** 15-20 mm
- **Size:** 7-10 mm
- **Lifespan:** 20-40 days
- **Leg Count:** 6

## Diet & Feeding

Adults sip nectar from flowers, while their babies are nature's tiny recyclers, eating dung.

- **Age differences:** Larvae feed on decaying organic matter like dung, while adults drink nectar and consume pollen from flowers.
- **Primary Foods:** nectar, pollen, mammal dung, decaying plant matter
- **Foraging Method:** Foraging

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** [Dandelion](https://www.snappit.app/explore/dandelion) (*Taraxacum officinale*) — Noon Flies help spread pollen between dandelions.
- **Eaten by:** [Great Tit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-tit) (*Parus major*) — Small birds like great tits will sometimes catch and eat Noon Flies.
- **Depends on:** [Cattle](https://www.snappit.app/explore/cattle) (*Bos taurus*) — Noon Fly larvae develop and feed within cow dung.

## Traits

- [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring.
- [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
- [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material.
- [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.
- [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night.
- [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces.
- [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants.

## Collections

- [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Noon Flies are harmless, but it's best to watch them from a distance.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Noon Fly?

Look for six legs, antennae, three body sections and the shape of the wings. Beetles have hardened front wings; flies have just one working pair. Tiny insects may need a close view before their group is clear. Insect Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### What is Noon Fly's wingspan?

15-20 mm

### How big is Noon Fly?

7-10 mm

### How long does Noon Fly live?

20-40 days

### What does Noon Fly eat?

Adults sip nectar from flowers, while their babies are nature's tiny recyclers, eating dung.

### Where is Noon Fly usually found?

Urban areas

### How does Noon Fly hunt?

Foraging

### How many legs does Noon Fly have?

6

## More Insects

- [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*)
- [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*)
- [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*)
- [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*)

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Source: [Noon Fly: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/noon-fly)