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but these are not around at this time of year and would be much larger. Apparently they are parasitic on solitary bees, wasps and beetles. Fortunatley they don't sting!  Bombylius major, yes, more than we usually see Masses here in the south too - far more than last year

, use the parasitic wasp, Metaphycus helvolus, bought by mail order as a biological control.Use an insecticide containing imidacloprid or thiacloprid in early summer when the insects are more vulnerable.a wide range of plants, house plants, greenhouse

discovered that they are in fact flies and are parasitic on solitary bees and wasps and beetles. fortunately they don't sting. Has anyone else seen these? Hoverflies? http://syrphidae.3644.co.uk/ Bee flies 'bombyliidae' often seen around primroses in early

've decided I am going to build one, but only along very particular lines.Many species of solitary bees and wasps nest in tunnels bored into wood. They often use old beetle burrows, rather than digging their own. And of course leaf-cutter bees will nest in any

, then this is the creature. But, sadly, it is just 'one of the ichneumons', which is quite frankly pathetic. Ichneumons are large and striking insects, allied to bees, wasps and ants. (Ichneumon is also another name for the Egyptian mongoose but we don't get those in East

. In severe cases, growth becomes distorted, leaves curl up, the plant weakens and can die.Natural predators, such as birds, earwigs, ladybirds, lacewings, hoverflies, ground beetles, spiders and parasitic wasps are a gardener's best allies. Some

above 10 celsius in the greenhouse you can use a biological control, such as the parasitic wasp, Encarsia formosa, which attacks the juvenile forms of whitefly.Sprays with products containing imidacloprid and thiacloprid, which are absorbed by the plants

with horticultural soft soap. After the initial spray, with the night temperatures warming up, we'll start our programme of integrated pest management. For aphid control we introduce parasitic wasps, hoverflies and ladybirds - the larvae (especially of the latter two