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nes
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Joined: Mon Jun 22, 2009 10:20 am
Location: Rural Ottawa, ON

Hover Fly

Did everyone else know about these guys? :D

[img]https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/39/Syrphidae_poster.jpg[/img]

I didn't know about them at all, we always have lots and I thought they were sweat bees. I also now feel REALLY bad for getting rid of a few larva that were on my cauliflower. :oops:


[url]https://theselfsufficientgardener.com/episode-53-hoversyrphid-flies-beneficial-series[/url]
Vanessa raising organic vegetables, livestock, wildflowers, and family in zone 5A.
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applestar
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Joined: Thu May 01, 2008 7:21 pm
Location: Zone 6, NJ (3/M)4/E ~ 10/M

I love those guys!! :()
I still have trouble ID'ing their larvae. I'm pretty sure I squished some that were on clover early last spring before remembering they look similar to sawfly slugs. This year's goal will be to learn to positively ID the larvae. I do see the adults all the time -- Part of my Garden Patrol. 8)
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nes
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Joined: Mon Jun 22, 2009 10:20 am
Location: Rural Ottawa, ON

There is a good picture in the link I posted (also a great podcast! just found it, love it!).

[img]https://theselfsufficientgardener.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/syrphidla2_i.jpg[/img]

Any green caterpillar like worm just gets me so nervous! :D
Vanessa raising organic vegetables, livestock, wildflowers, and family in zone 5A.
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soil
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Joined: Thu Jan 22, 2009 8:40 pm
Location: N. California

we have them by the hundreds here in the spring and summer. more than a few different species. they are great pollinators as well as pest control.
For all things come from earth, and all things end by becoming earth.
The Helpful Gardener
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Location: Colchester, CT

Since I've nearly stopped spraying at all, the [url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoverfly]syrphid flies[/url] are all over my garden, and mostly around my native area. Yea, I like these guys a LOT, part of my first line of defense... and like soil says, ding yeomans work pollinating now that honey bees are almost non-existant... :(

HG
Scott Reil
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rainbowgardener
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Joined: Sun Feb 15, 2009 6:04 pm
Location: TN/GA 7b

Oh man, HG, is it confession time now? NEARLY stopped spraying? What kind of spraying is it that you still do? (Spray what, on what, for what problem?)
Twitter account I manage for local Sierra Club: https://twitter.com/CherokeeGroupSC Facebook page I manage for them: https://www.facebook.com/groups/65310596576/ Come and find me and lots of great information, inspiration
The Helpful Gardener
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Joined: Mon Feb 09, 2004 9:17 pm
Location: Colchester, CT

I still use neem, pyrethrin, hort oils, copper fungicides...

These count as spraying still... :|

HG
Scott Reil


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