(Other) flying insects

[JamezF]

Living in what is very much a rural farming area with plenty of livestock grazing in the fields, flies and other flying insects are something we've just had to learn to live with over the Summer. We try to avoid getting lots of them in the house, but it's pretty much impossible. So far this year however, we've had pretty much none. I've not even got as far as putting new batteries in the "fly bat". I spoke to a friend who lives a couple of miles away and he said that during the summer they end up with loads of sticky fly paper strips decorating their house, but this year they haven't needed any. I can't recall that I've seen a single wasp since the queens emerged in Spring either, and perhaps only one or two hornets. I was told that a very successful year for wasps was being predicted some months back, but that certainly doesn't seem to be the case based on my observations.

Has anyone else noticed this?

James

 

[Curly green finger's]

lots of flys at the apiary’s mainly at the edge of woodland here but no more than usual.
More wasps around though for this time of year and I’ve counted a fair few wasp nests that are the size of a smallish Mellon .
No plans to do anything to them .
The time to kill wasps is when you see queens in the early spring not really when they have a nest unless for obvious reasons.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Since tge field that surrounds us was moved over from grazing to silage we get few flies. In our fields where the bees are klegs seem to find me without problem. The polytunnel attracts lots of meadow browns.

 

[Goran]

We are thousands of km away from you, but also little wasps seen, even flies not too many.. Hornets I actively worked to reduce around apiaries and now are also in low numbers around hives..
On the other side a lot of klegs emerged and aphids are increasing..

 

[Wilco]

Living in what is very much a rural farming area with plenty of livestock grazing in the fields, flies and other flying insects are something we've just had to learn to live with over the Summer. We try to avoid getting lots of them in the house, but it's pretty much impossible. So far this year however, we've had pretty much none. I've not even got as far as putting new batteries in the "fly bat". I spoke to a friend who lives a couple of miles away and he said that during the summer they end up with loads of sticky fly paper strips decorating their house, but this year they haven't needed any. I can't recall that I've seen a single wasp since the queens emerged in Spring either, and perhaps only one or two hornets. I was told that a very successful year for wasps was being predicted some months back, but that certainly doesn't seem to be the case based on my observations.

Has anyone else noticed this?

James

Got wasps starting to lurk around one apiary already. Other flies, hard to say. Definitely fewer butterflies.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

seen quite a few wasps in the last few days, so don't get excited. Also seen loads more hornets this year - which is nice. Loads of butterflies at the Tŷ Uchaf apiary, but then she has forty plus acres of untouched wildflower meadows there.
Someone reported they'd seen the first marsh fritilaries in the gwaun just over the road last week

 

[Newbeeneil]

Saw my first wasp today when we sat for a picnic on a walk.

 

[BeeKeyPlayer]

Seeing loads of butterflies, moths, beetles and flies in the 25-acre orchard where the wild flowers dominate the grass. Now you mention it, I haven't seen any wasps (except the queens that I 'removed' in the spring).

 

[The Poot]

Quite a lot of flies coming into the house here, as normal. Little wonder with the amount of muck spreading that goes on! After seeing lots of queen wasps in the Spring, very few workers about yet. Horse flies and klegs not about yet, but they’re normally pests for July /August around here. More hornets than last year and lots of brown butterflies around, especially on bramble, but very few others thus far. LOTS of clothes moths this year.

 

[blackcloud]

Wasps beginning to make an appearance.
Thankfully my (ex?)cbpv hive has its floor back.
European Hornets seem a little more plentiful this year -I actually have a quiet admiration for them.

 

[Penninetrader]

Seeing loads of butterflies, moths, beetles and flies in the 25-acre orchard where the wild flowers dominate the grass. Now you mention it, I haven't seen any wasps (except the queens that I 'removed' in the spring).

I removed some Queens in the spring. I wonder if our heightened awareness for AH has made us responsible for a reduction in wasps

 

[Erichalfbee]

I removed some Queens in the spring. I wonder if our heightened awareness for AH has made us responsible for a reduction in wasps

Do you mean folk are killing wasps thinking they are velutina?
I'm sure it's the weather. @Karol has posted about wasp extinctions. Perhaps this is just such a year.
I'm happy to say that we seem to have a thriving colony of European Hornets somewhere close by. They are regular visitors to one cotoneaster we have against the house wall and I spotted one harvesting sawfly caterpillars yesterday
What its sad is there aren't even any white butterfly larvae to eat our cabbages.

 

[Karol]

Do you mean folk are killing wasps thinking they are velutina?
I'm sure it's the weather. @Karol has posted about wasp extinctions. Perhaps this is just such a year.
I'm happy to say that we seem to have a thriving colony of European Hornets somewhere close by. They are regular visitors to one cotoneaster we have against the house wall and I spotted one harvesting sawfly caterpillars yesterday
What its sad is there aren't even any white butterfly larvae to eat our cabbages.

Spooky! I literally just posted to that effect. Hornets are better able to withstand rain being a bigger insect. The lack of competition from wasps will see an explosion in Crabro numbers.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Spooky! I literally just posted to that effect

I always remember what you post

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Do you mean folk are killing wasps thinking they are velutina?

I think folk are just killing indiscriminately without actually using their brains. As we noticed last week, brainless prejudice and idiocy seems to be very fashionable at the moment.
Seen a few wasps around and also a lot of sightings of giant dark horsefly, Tabanus sudeticus, being reported

 

[Dekzion]

I've seen one worker bumble in the last fortnight! Double zero white cabbage butterflies, One worker wasp on an ex pigeon. I contacted the bumble conservation lot and they didn't seem worried, swearing they'll bounce back! Just so long as the cabbage whites stay in France I'll be happy.