Name that pest!

[theinsidegardener]

Anyone know what this pest is and how to get rid of it? Seems to be absolutely everywhere in my garden at the minute and I also noticed them when we were in the park last week with the girls. They are really horrible and ruining all my plants. 

[owdboggy]

Not sure what they actually are, but we used to call them 'thunderflies'. We a huge number of them when the wheat is ripe. The spiders webs in the garden often collapse under the weight of them. They are a kind of thrip. I think. Dratted nuisances too! Never found a way of getting rid of them either, BUT when the weather cools down they do disappear eventually.

[Tig]

We call them thunderflies too, and I hate them because they get everywhere and make me itch! They don't seem to be around for long, usually all gone within a couple of weeks.

[theinsidegardener]

Thanks owdboggy and Tig, such a shame there's no quick fix but I know we had them last year and eventually they must have gone away.

[owdboggy]

Sitting at the computer I can see that the window is covered in them, outside fortunately.