Robert, Could I send you a picture of what I call a "fruit eating wasp" that may be similar to what Jim is talking about. I have mentioned here the problems I have encountered with this pest. It bites holes in my small fruits, feeds a bit, then leaves and returns - unfortunately never to the same fruit. Typically it selects another berry and attacks it. Over a few weeks, a few of these pests do a lot of damage.
In shape and color pattern, it resembles a yellow jacket, except that the actual colors resemble that of a honey bee (not the yellow of the yellow jacket) and it is slightly larger than the yellow jacket in size.
--- On Wed, 2/18/09, Robert Stanton <robert.l.stanton@gmail.com> wrote:
From: Robert Stanton <robert.l.stanton@gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [NAFEX] Disguised fly
To: nafex@lists.ibiblio.org
Date: Wednesday, February 18, 2009, 10:58 AM
Jim,
I'm an entomologist-in-training, though my focus is more on ecology
and behavior than "pests."
Your fly sounds like it could be in the family Syrphidae, which are
prominent hymenoptera-mimics. I'm not familiar with adult syrphids
that consume actual fruit, though - they're typically nectar feeders
at that stage. If you have a picture, or a collected sample, that
would go a long way in helping lead to a positive identification.
Was last year the first you noticed its presence? Are there normally
yellowjackets around the orchard as well? What other insects are
present?
I'll try to leaf through some guides this evening and see what else
could be a match.
Robert
Date: Wed, 18 Feb 2009 09:41:08
-0600
From: "Jim Fruth" <jfruth@tds.net>
Subject: [NAFEX] Disguised fly
To: "NAFEX" <nafex@lists.ibiblio.org>
Message-ID: <34A45E8AD1D2441FA8205099A9358D21@ibma20plaptop>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
reply-type=original
Do we have any entomologists in the group?
In September, my patch of Fall bearing red raspberries is visited by
droves of a fly that resembles a Yellow Jacket. It is obviously a fly by
the wing structure and it is about twice as large as a House Fly. It
competes with Yellow Jackets in feeding on ripe fruits. Unlike Yellow
Jackets, it doesn't sting. It is a pest by its very presence in the berry
patch because, before I reach to pick a berry, I have to look to be sure I
won't be grabbing hold of a Yellow Jacket. In other words, it is a pest
because it slows the pick.
Do any of you have this fly? What is it? Is
there a way to get rid of
it? Obviously, I can't spray because I'd contaminate the fruit.
Jim Fruth
Brambleberry Farm
Pequot Lakes, MN 56472
For jams, jellies, syrups and more:
www.jellygal.com
1-877-265-6856 (Toll Free)
1-218-831-7018 (My Cell)
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