Blessed Thrips

[Pan mixer]

I had been thinking that there was something missing from my summer, no thrips (or thunderflies) so far until the last couple of days.

They are not in any danger of extinction, why do they choose the moment just after I have got my hands covered in grease to itch in an un-ignorable fashion?

 

[Jon]

And horseflies have made a start here

 

[Wheyibuggermair]

And horseflies have made a start here

Would have thought you would have had them weeks ago, your two/three weeks in front of us for 'summer appearances' and we have been plagued with the vicious sods for over a week now.

 

[Kevtherev]

And horseflies have made a start here

Bloody horrid things

 

[Wheyibuggermair]

Bloody horrid things

Horse flies and sheep tics, two creatures I would love to see on a 'critically endangered list'

 

[Kevtherev]

And wasps

 

[Wheyibuggermair]

And wasps

At least you can see those buggers coming, cleggs and tics have usually snuck up and done the damage afore you realise they are there.

 

[dazza b]

Dam clegs are out in force round here

 

[Jon]

Would have thought you would have had them weeks ago, your two/three weeks in front of us for 'summer appearances' and we have been plagued with the vicious sods for over a week now.

Yep, it's been quite cold and with a bit of wind, has kept their heads down, there're making up for it now though !

 

[Wheyibuggermair]

Dam clegs are out in force round here

The first crop of cleggs arrive around late spring, the big black dozy lookin buggers are nowt more than an annoyance getting in your hair etc, but we seem to have a months grace before their more aggressive bloodsucking biting cousins arrive.
But until mebbes ten years ago the second crop was hardly noticeable just the odd one and very rarely bitten but now! I cant open the gates without swarms of the little swines settling on the windscreen waiting for their lunch.
Anybody else noticed this increase in numbers or is it just my bit?

 

[Sonoftheheir]

Overrun with pollen beetles around here and waves of thunder bugs.

 

[Bobthebuilder]

seen the 1st harvest flies on tractor window when leading hay yesterday

 

[Grassman]

Dam clegs are out in force round here

What's a cleg?

 

[Derrick Hughes]

Ain't they the things that go on bale trailers

 

[Derrick Hughes]

Thrips I mean

 

[Wheyibuggermair]

What's a cleg?

Local name for a viciously biting horsefly, they don't just bite, they seem to have a chew while they are at it!

 

[Pan mixer]

Thrips I mean

Thysanaptera such as Augusticeps thrip

 

[Derrick Hughes]

is that the thing that goes on the hay cart

 

[radar]

They're raves round here - and not the type that appear in the middle of the night!

 

[Brisel]

There is an explosion of aphids around here, so it has been bug friendly weather. I have been picking a few ladybird larvae for my wife's beans & roses. Mrs Brisel hasn't been keen on my proposed spray programme for the garden since I last Roundupped the driveway then walked across the grass with damp shoes...