MsQuizzical

By MsQuizzical

Gout Fly Love

I've seen a few minute gout flies flitting around the ivy bush but today there was a swarm. I wondered how they got the name and have discovered that when cereal crops are stunted or swollen farmers describe them as gouty. There are two generations of these flies, the second emerging in September, hence the swarm. They wasted no time in making more flies. They lay their eggs on wheat, barley and rye and their maggots tunnel into the plant shoots causing the goutiness and preventing the ears from forming. 

I've added an image to extras of what I think is a tiny wasp. I love its yellow legs.

I got some spotty bottom fly shots but hope to get a better one to blip. I've also photographed third instar nymphs of green and southern green shieldbugs.

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