i saw an insect in the garden it looked like a small fly...smaller than a
house fly but larger than a black fly. the wings seemed stuck to its back.
when i prodded it, it did not fly away. is this a house fly freshly hatched
and consequently to young to fly? or possibly a pest interested in eating my
crops?

simon

Simon Stenkle said:

i saw an insect in the garden it looked like a small fly...smaller than a
house fly but larger than a black fly. the wings seemed stuck to its back.
when i prodded it, it did not fly away. is this a house fly freshly hatched
and consequently to young to fly? or possibly a pest interested in eating my
crops?

May have been young and freshly hatched. It could also have been the adult
of a cabbage maggot. But it could quite possibly be a beneficial insect rather
than a pest. Go to:

http://www.metrokc.gov/hazwaste/hous.../goodbugs.html

and scroll down to 'tachnid [sic] fly.' (This is a rather nice list of garden beneficials,
with pictures.)

Or see

http://www.entomology.wisc.edu/mbcn/kyf409.html -- about tachinid flies.

http://www.chaparraltree.com/mn/tachinid.shtml -- pictures of an adult tachinid fly
(species unspecified) feeding on nectar.
--
Pat in Plymouth MI

Any technology distinguishable from magic is insufficiently advanced.
(attributed to Don Marti)

Could be the "Lesser Bulb Fly". These little SOB's hang around on the tips
of the leaves of onions and garlic. They lay eggs at the base of the plant.
The maggots then crawl down to the bulb and ruin everything. They look just
like a house fly except a little smaller. I have used Rotenopne liquid
sucessfully against them. Check your onion and garlic plants.

Farmer John

"Simon Stenkle" wrote in message
...
i saw an insect in the garden it looked like a small fly...smaller than a
house fly but larger than a black fly. the wings seemed stuck to its
back.
when i prodded it, it did not fly away. is this a house fly freshly
hatched
and consequently to young to fly? or possibly a pest interested in eating
my
crops?

simon