ID this common flying fellow

Dewayne mater · April 27, 2013

This insect is common, but I'm not sure what it is. Seeing a bunch of them lately so I want to address quickly if needed. Thanks.

Sorry the picture quality isn't optimum.

Dewayne Mater

habitat_gardener · April 28, 2013

Looks like an aphid. Some of them have wings; most don't. I let the populations build up until the lady bugs and other beneficials arrive, ravenous, and clear them out. In the past week, I noticed a couple adult lady beetles and one immature on some kale plants that had been covered with aphids. Today, no more aphids!

Dewayne mater · April 28, 2013

Thanks HG. The body is dark color (dark green to black) and the wings are clear and bigger than its body. I thought it could be an aphid, but none of the google images I called up were exactly like it. this look almost like a tiny fly. Then again, the variety of the aphid family is impressive.

Saw a couple of lady bugs in the garden yesterday enjoying something on the arugula, so maybe they'll head on over to the tomatoes too. Or perhaps I'll go pick up some lady bugs at the garden store and see if I can't improve the odds.

These guys don't seem to mind Neem at all and I'm trying to hold off on using insecticides stronger than neem if possible. Happy gardening.

Dewayne mater.

Dewayne mater · April 28, 2013

After looking further, I found this web image of an aphid that look very much like my invaders. So, time to see if ladybugs can win this war, or I move on beyond neem.

Dewayne mater

awsumth · April 28, 2013

What type of damage do you see?

A lot of varied small flies can be leaf miners.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agromyzidae

Although any damage I can see on your plant looks like something that sucks plant juices, like aphids. If you get a lot they leave a sticky mess that attracts ants.

Dewayne mater · April 28, 2013

Mostly little holes and some drying up of lower leaves that I needed to pull anyway as the plants get bigger. I have had leaf miners before, but I don't see that type of damage now. Several lady bugs are on the job now and I'm hoping they stick around and get the numbers in control.

Dewayne mater

April 28, 2013	#5
awsumth Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: South Florida Posts: 40	What type of damage do you see? A lot of varied small flies can be leaf miners. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agromyzidae Although any damage I can see on your plant looks like something that sucks plant juices, like aphids. If you get a lot they leave a sticky mess that attracts ants. Last edited by awsumth; April 28, 2013 at 01:37 PM.

April 28, 2013	#2
habitat_gardener Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: California Central Valley Posts: 2,543	Looks like an aphid. Some of them have wings; most don't. I let the populations build up until the lady bugs and other beneficials arrive, ravenous, and clear them out. In the past week, I noticed a couple adult lady beetles and one immature on some kale plants that had been covered with aphids. Today, no more aphids!

April 28, 2013	#3
Dewayne mater Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2008 Location: DFW, Texas Posts: 1,212	Thanks HG. The body is dark color (dark green to black) and the wings are clear and bigger than its body. I thought it could be an aphid, but none of the google images I called up were exactly like it. this look almost like a tiny fly. Then again, the variety of the aphid family is impressive. Saw a couple of lady bugs in the garden yesterday enjoying something on the arugula, so maybe they'll head on over to the tomatoes too. Or perhaps I'll go pick up some lady bugs at the garden store and see if I can't improve the odds. These guys don't seem to mind Neem at all and I'm trying to hold off on using insecticides stronger than neem if possible. Happy gardening. Dewayne mater.