As the growing season continues, insect season also continues! In this edition, learn about hover flies and thrips.
Do you want to review pest management basics?
We recommend reading Volume 1 of our Friend or Foe series. Click here to view our previous edition of Friend or Foe: Ladybug and Tarnished Plant Bug.
Friend: Hover Fly (Syrphid Fly)
Identification:
Hover fly adults are small yellow or orange and black flies of varying appearance, with a slender body, typically 1/8–1 inch in length, and have one pair of wings. Larvae are roughly the same length as adults and may be yellow, green, white, or brown.
Note: Syrphid flies mimic bees and wasps as an anti-predation.
Promoting Hover Flies in Your Garden:
Adult hover flies feed on nectar and pollen. You can attract them with flowers like:
- Aster
- Buttercup
- Mustard
- Carnation
- Rose
- Parsley
You can also help to conserve hover flies by limiting pesticide applications (many insecticides are not selective, meaning they will destroy both pests and beneficial insects).
Reasons to Love Hover Flies:
Hover fly larvae are highly effective predators of aphids and are capable of consuming hundreds of aphids during its development. Some hover fly larvae will also prey on:
- Ants
- Caterpillars
- Froghoppers
- Psyllids
- Scale
- Mites
Foe: Thrips
Identification:
Thrips are difficult to spot without a magnifying lens because they are slender and measure about 1 mm long. Adult colors range from yellow to dark brown or black. Thrips have small dark eyes and feather-like wings.
Host Plants:
Wide host range including ornamental plants and crops, such as:
- Strawberries
- Eggplant
- Peppers
- Hibiscus
- Dahlia
- Gardenia
Damage:
- Egg laying within plant tissues may cause scarring
- Thrips damage causes distorted or deformed growth
- Feeding may lead to misshapen blossoms and fruit bronzing near the leaf cap
Did you find any thrips in your garden?
Give us a call and we’ll talk you through what you can do to manage this pest.
Do you have more insect questions?
CALL US!
Nourse Farms is here to grow with you every step of the way!
Our customer service team is ready and available Monday–Friday, 9–5 p.m. EST. Call us at 413-665-2658.
Not a phone person? You can also email us at info@noursefarms.com!