ambersvictorygarden
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Joined: Fri Jun 13, 2014 7:21 am
Location: Coastal New England zone 6b

Tiny green and black flies on cucumbers

Hi, I'm hoping someone could tell me what the heck these flies are. I can't seem to find anything online. I think the small black ones are fungus gnats or fruit flys. But I don't know what the green ones are. I'm finding them mostly on my cucumbers, and I think I've found their larvae inside the cucumber flowers. I'm not sure if they are causing damage or not. I'm getting lots of little cucumbers, but they don't seem to be getting big very quickly. I also have no bees whatsoever, but plenty of ants on the cucumbers. The black flies seem to be here and there on the tomatoes. I live pretty close to the ocean in Massachusetts. I've put up the blue and yellow sticky fly traps which seem to be catching the black ones. I've also put some strongly scented detergent in plastic cups nearby to deter them....but they're still there!
Any help very appreciated!
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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(11/B)

These are winged form of aphids. Typically this means they are in the midst of population surge. The ants are milking them for the sweet fluid they produce. Do you see any predators that eat them like ladybugs, hover flies, or green lacewings or their eggs?
Green lacewing eggs are easily recognized by the way they are attached with delicate stalks.
Green lacewing eggs are easily recognized by the way they are attached with delicate stalks.

ambersvictorygarden
Newly Registered
Posts: 5
Joined: Fri Jun 13, 2014 7:21 am
Location: Coastal New England zone 6b

Ack! Thanks for the reply, No I've got no ladybugs, lacewings or eggs that I've seen. I haven't heard of hoverflies.... I have Diatomaceous Earth, should I use that do you think?



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