I have flies...crazy shiny looking flies

clfraser Wed 6 Apr 2011 - 19:02

Okay so I know there is poo in my compost and flies like poo but will these flies hurt my garden? I have no idea what bugs are good and what bugs are bad. There are definitely a lot of bugs hangin in the garden.

Any suggestions about the flies?

ribarr4 Wed 6 Apr 2011 - 19:12

Can you take pictures or search for a pic online that looks like what you are seeing? I can't think of a fly that can hurt anything, but there are some flies that are very good for the compost pile. The black soldier fly larva, for example, help break down your compost much faster than earthworms and they are less picky about what they like than earthworms as well.

clfraser Wed 6 Apr 2011 - 19:20

I think this is the fly. It is an iridescent green fly? This one looks similar to what is in the garden, there are a lot of them flying around. I can try to get a picture of what is actually there tomorrow.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2134/2109162055_f405711060.jpg

Also, What about ants in the garden? I believe they are probably the nasty Texas fire ants, but I know I probably shouldn't have ants in there. I will search the forum, but any thoughts on getting rid of those?

ribarr4 Wed 6 Apr 2011 - 19:44

I think this may be what it is.

http://insects.tamu.edu/fieldguide/cimg231.html

We don't have those ants here, but I am originally from Texas and I don't miss fire ants at all. If fire ants are in your garden they are hard to drive off. The problem is you don't want to put poison in the garden. If they have a hill I would try what my Great Grandmother used to do. She would pour scalding water on them then dig down more and pour more scalding water on.

Old Hippie Thu 7 Apr 2011 - 8:01

Wow! That is one very pretty fly. I love the colours. However, it does not look like any kind of fly I have ever seen. The pointy back end doesn't look like a regular fly, but you people have all kinds of critters that I don't have up here in Canada. We don't have fire ants either.

I don't like a lot of flies around cause they spread too much disease, landing on poo and then on other stuff. YUCK! I guess they have their place and all. In my compost heap however, I turn it often once it is no longer frozen solid that is, and cover new additions of kitchen waste with grass or sawdust to keep flies at bay.

Maybe you have a government agricultural dept. that might know what it is or can search on line? Sorry I am not much help.

Gwynn

elliephant Thu 7 Apr 2011 - 9:28

I know the kinds of flies you're talking about. We have them here, too. Don't know what they're called or if you need to worry about them (I haven't), so not much help Laughing

Just wanted to confirm that such things exist!

**camprn** Thu 7 Apr 2011 - 10:26

you can try looking it up here http://bugguide.net/node/view/15740

blue_elle Thu 7 Apr 2011 - 20:38

We had those last year. Not harmful themselves, but their presence may indicate that you have bad bugs. They eat aphids, spider mites, larvae, etc.

kerriejo1961 Thu 7 Apr 2011 - 20:57

I noticed flies today, too!! I didn't think about the manure in the soil, though. They are regular black flies, though, not the pretty shiny ones you have!!

clfraser Sat 9 Apr 2011 - 5:08

Yeah they seem to be multiplying. Each time I go out there, more flies have appeared. I got some lady bugs so if I have bad bugs hopefully they will help drive them off. The flies sit on the leaves and just sit there. I have noticed a few leaves looking kinda different. (I know I am obssessive), but I don't want my garden to fail.

Good to know others have seen them though.

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