There is a slender, black bug, biting holes in the blossoms of my plants. The bug is under 1/2 inch long, it is shaped like a black piece of wild rice and it flies, and we think it bites, not positive. I've tried DE, Sevin yard spray with the water hose, insecticide soap, flying insect spray and nothing, so far, fazes them. I sat beer around and soapy water, no luck. The bugs bunch up on the inside of blooms and gather around water buckets, they look jet black and bunch up together and move. I've never seen a fungus gnat, but I'm not thinking that's what this is. The neighbor says they bite, when they fly, they look like gnats but flying insect spray kills gnats. Please let me know if you have any idea what they are and what I can use to stop them. Thanks!!!
Pest help ????
Bump
I've been searching for an answer to my bug question for two days and I have to go outta town tomorrow, so, pretty please, if anyone has a clue, please advise!!
Sorry Sherry I've never seen anything like what you're describing.
Mary
I haven't either, Mary, I cannot imagine what it is. I suppose I'll wash them with soapy water, unless, someone comes along to identify and advise me differently. Thank you for your post!!
Sherry.. can you get a picture of them?
My digital doesn't take good closeups, maybe I can figure out a way to set it. My hope is that they will be gone, never to return, but I doubt I'll be so lucky...thanks Jazz!! I just cannot believe I'm the only person to have swarms of these bugs, I was hoping someone else in my area had them and could advise me...
I would try sprying them with CUTTER it attaches to your hose and kills a multitude of bugs, you can get it at Wal-Mart, or any garden store.
Doris
Thanks, Doris, I used Sevin on the hose, nada. I have the Cutter and I will try it. I am just so puzzled as to what this is, they swarm, fly and bite, and they are jet black, never have seen anything like it...
is it like a beetle or a moth or a fly?