Eek, Fly overload!

[Amo]

Any ideas what these are? We came back to the GH with lots in but now I'm finding them elsewhere like on the squash leaves outside too. They only seem to be on the leaves and they're not what I'd call a fruit fly.

These two pictures are from this morning on the Nicandra !!!

[Rosefriend]

They are not what I would call a fruit fly either Amo. I am still googling but up to now haven't seen anything similar. The very light wings reminds me of flying ants but that isn't right.

RF

EDIT: Anthomyia pluvialis perhaps?

Try googling it - I am just getting German sites but some of the pictures are very similar.

[Amo]

They have folded back wings, like ants as you say but they are not. There are 2 sizes and even some gold ones. The Anthomyia have separated wings and distinctive bodies.

[Rosefriend]

Right - just going through my books - google is only throwing up German sites, however..

Bibio hortulanus - folded wings and pollinators of fruit trees.

Diptera - they all are

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fly

I will keep looking - rather a lot of them, aren't there?

RF

[Amo]

We're into Fungus Gnats now. Lots of them too

[Amo]

Those Bibio are very close in the black form. A bit snouty with a saddle and similar wings too.

They are definately centering on the Nicandra too which I find strangest.

[Rosefriend]

Yes I thought so too - just googled your Fungus gnats though - similar ones there as well aren't there!!

I am trying to find the gold one - thought it might be easier.....t'isn't though.

RF

[Rosefriend]

These Fungus gnats - aren't the legs too long?

RF

[Amo]

Yes and they hold their wings differently. I think the two sizes are male and female, just saw a couple joined at not quite the hip. Smaller one being dragged.

[Rosefriend]

Well that would fit with what I am finding, male and female - trouble is that I can't find a really good gallery - saw one but there were no names...

I still can't find anything for the golden one..

RF

[Tig]

I think the golden one may be the Yellow Swarming Fly - best pictures I can find on here ..

www.jm.rentokil.com/en/pest-guides/insects-and-spiders/flies/yellow-swarming-fly/index.html

The others could be different species of Cluster Flies

x Tig

[Rosefriend]

Oo Tig that looks promising - well done.

I found the Cluster fly as well but the one I saw had hardly any resemblance.

A hell of a lot of different flies around aren't there?

RF

[Tig]

Too true RF - I have seen half a dozen photos of cluster flies, some look nothing like and others look similar They do 'swarm' inside at this time of year, but black flies are hard to identify!

x Tig

[Chuckles]

flippin nora made my skin crawl and I'm not normally squeamish like that. Hope they B off soon Amo whatever they are.

[Amo]

I think you're right with the yellow swarming fly Tigs, thanks. The Jamacan rentokil site eh?!?!?!

For the life of me I can't do macros today!! This is a close up of the black. The seems to be two types after all. One is almost beetleish with the flat wings, pointed face and shiney thorax (left) and the other is more small almost encarsia wasp like with upright wings with black spots on the end (right). They seem to be feeding.

OH has just called me up the garden to see loads on the runner beans. They all seem dead but they have their proboscis stuck in the leaves and there are none at all on the squash climbing up with the beans.

[Amo]

Right, we're on to sciarid flies (another type of fungus gnat). The big ones are identical in shape, but no yellow sides. As here davesgarden.com/guides/bf/showimage/4390/

Still no clues on the smaller black.

Later edit: OH thinks they may be from the liquid drawn off the wormery he used to feed the tomatoes. The solids also went into the bean trenches.

[Shrubrose]

Blimey Amo, that is certainly one heck of an infestation! Sympathies 'winging' their way to you from me

[Barbara]

oh god that lot would give me the eeeeebijeeebies ;D
just whack 'em amo

[Amo]

There seems to be a awful lot of dead ones today. My only concern is that if it is sciarid fly, what's going on in the soil?!?! I think we will buy some nematodes to water in, hopefully it's not too late in the season, and do it again in the spring.

And I did have to go and really, really wash my hair. I still itch a bit just thinking of it!

[Chuckles]

I've been having a quick scan about on this and lots of sites mention using Provado Vine Weevil to clear them up. Be ok in pots but it will cost a fair bit to do a bed

This site mentions Provado and has some great pics of some of our common pests and bugs, don't panic though when you see tiny little critters crawling across the screen ;D

www.junglegardens.co.uk/Pests.htm

If you are a RHS member Amo you could always send a sample to them for an ID although they do look like Sciarid Fly don't they.

[Missredhead]

Aug 24, 2008 10:23:49 GMT Amo said:

And I did have to go and really, really wash my hair. I still itch a bit just thinking of it!

made me itch too...

[Amo]

I saw the Provado bit but you can't use it on crops. All the remaining toms etc are coming out now anyway!!

I am RHS too but this seems so silly!!! Perhaps it might be worth telling them just incase we're not the only ones, especially if this is all originating from the wormery as we are begining to suspect.

I have just ordered some Hypoaspis mites to sprinkle on, there should be enough of the season left to finish of any lavae and we will do again in the spring.

*sigh*

[prodigal gardener]

By the cringe Amo.....................GROSS YUK YUK YUK ...all itchy now wish Id not looked !!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Ladygardener]

they're awfuul Amo, I hope you've managed to get rid of them all.

[Amo]

Thank LNG. They've all mostly died off now. It was a bit of a mad couple of weeks though and I've got everythiggn crossed it doesn't happen again next year, or to anyone else!!!

I've consigned the wormery to the woodshed for the moment!

[isabella]

Made me itch too

Nicandra is also called ' The Shoo Fly Plant' isn't it? Well if it is it didn't

[Amo]

It is Isabella and too right it wasn't! I was wondering if they were taking in the toxins of the plant to use themselves.

Might explain why I am covered in bites this week!!!

[Amo]

For those who are interested, I took the hint from Chuckles and contacted RHS. ;D

The reply is as follows and I'm relieved: -

Dear Amo

The flies with relatively long antennae and darkened wings are a type of fly commonly known as a fever fly and probably the species Dilophus febrilis. This is associated with grassland where the larvae feed on decaying organic matter in the surface layers of the soil. The adult flies sometimes emerge in very large numbers at this time of year. The adult flies are sometimes seen on flowers, where they feed on nectar and pollen, but they will not cause any damage to plants in your greenhouse or garden.

Your photograph also shows some other species of fly. One of the pictures has a small yellow and black fly which belongs to the fly family the Chloropidae. There are many species of chloropid fly and some have larvae that bore in the stems of grasses but are not pests of any significance in gardens. The other picture that you sent has a fly with a black spot near its wing tip. This is a fly of the Sepsidae family. Sepsid flies develop as larvae in rotting organic matter and dung. The adult flies are sometimes seen in large numbers on the foliage of plants but will not cause any damage.

Yours sincerely

A J Halstead
Principal Entomologist


;D

[Plocket]

Goodness Amo you HAVE got a lot of flies. But what a fantastic and detailed reply from the RHS