I have been letting some kurly kale go to seed for that seed.

I had noticed a build up of grey aphid, but had not time to deal with them.

Yesterday, I noticed something I had not seen before with grey aphids, the
presence of what could be 2 ypes of predator.

The first looked like a rather washed out wasp or hover fly. the colours
were darker and lighter grey in bands. When observed further, most seemed to
have died in the act of hanging on to the yellow flower. There seemed to be
two sizes of this maybe male/female. Or maybe larger and smaller (more like
a fly) of differenctent species.

On some kale heads, almost clear of grey aphids, there were masses of small
black beetles about 1.5 x 2 mm. in size. These were very willing to fly.

Does anyone know if these both predate the grey aphids ?

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Your little black beetles are most likely to be pollen beetles, which
just love yellow flowers, and anything that is pale coloured or yellow.
They are particularly numerous at the moment with the oilseed rape
flowers being well out. Not predators, but will eat some of the pollen,
perhaps the aphids and bettles are just competeing. Once the pollen
beetles are finished on the field crops they will be in garden, but in
much smaller numbers until you hang out yellow or white clothes, then
you will find them!

Mike

Your little black beetles are most likely to be pollen beetles, which
just love yellow flowers, and anything that is pale coloured or yellow.
They are particularly numerous at the moment with the oilseed rape
flowers being well out. Not predators, but will eat some of the pollen,
perhaps the aphids and bettles are just competeing. Once the pollen
beetles are finished on the field crops they will be in garden, but in
much smaller numbers until you hang out yellow or white clothes, then
you will find them!

Mike

Your little black beetles are most likely to be pollen beetles, which
just love yellow flowers, and anything that is pale coloured or yellow.
They are particularly numerous at the moment with the oilseed rape
flowers being well out. Not predators, but will eat some of the pollen,
perhaps the aphids and bettles are just competeing. Once the pollen
beetles are finished on the field crops they will be in garden, but in
much smaller numbers until you hang out yellow or white clothes, then
you will find them!

Mike