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How to get rid of black fly

lanyon.carollanyon.carol Posts: 11
in Problem solving

I've discovered black fly on our cherry Tree.  A lot of the leaves have all curled and covered with black fly underneath. It has even started to spread to the rhubarb and I'm worried its going to spread even further. 

Our cherry tree is full of cherries so I didn't particularly want to spray it with any chemicals but I will if that's the only option.  

I have sprayed the tree today with washing up liquid and water mix. Should I do this every night? Or weekly? How long will it take until it takes affect? And should I cut off the contaminated leaves?

Thank you for any help or suggestions you can give to point us in the right direction 

Carol. 

Posts

  • sanjy67sanjy67 Posts: 1,007

    you have done the right thing, you can also blast them off with the hose.

  • trifid housetrifid house Posts: 100

    We have a large cherry tree that is also covered with black fly. It is too tall to spray I can only reach the lower branches, which I have used a vegetable safe insecticide spray on. Does anybody have any other ideas? 

  • UnknownUnknown

    Use a totally organic rhubarb spay.

     http://homeguides.sfgate.com/make-insect-spray-rhubarb-leaves-71445.html

  • Greg62Greg62 Posts: 2

    My Peonies are covered in black flies and the plant has not even flowered yet. How do i get rid of the black flies without killing the plant .Any advice will be greatly appreciated 

    many thanks 

    Greg62

  • Mark56Mark56 Posts: 1,653

    Blast with a hose on a powerful setting, try to get a hose extension & spray if you haven't already got one. Failing that hang bird feeders nearby the host plant, as this will attract blue tits which hoover them up in the hundreds for their young. Another alternative that worked for me is a garlic spray. The Queen's gardeners use it at Buckingham Palace by the bucket load, their roses remain untouched. 

    Don't spray with insecticides.. you will harm the beneficial predatory insects like ladybirds & their larvae, certain wasps etc, which eat aphids as well as killing good pollinators like bees. 

    Last edited: 29 June 2017 16:44:39

  • wtu86597wtu86597 Posts: 1

    I know this is an old topic but still writing for others who are facing the same problem. 

    Last summer we also had a very bad fly infestation. It was so bad that for whole day me and my kids used to swat them with newspaper rolls and by end of the day we had almost killed 150+ flies daily. 

    Then I searched internet for tips to eliminate flies and they worked after 3 months our house became a no fly zone. So, these were the tips that helped us:

    1. Clean the garbage cans at least thrice a week. 

    2. Spray a solution of boric acid with water near the garbage cans. To make the solution take 1 liter of water and mix 3 tsp of boric acid powder to it. Boric acid with water repels the flies and also it will kill the files or their larvae that come in contact with it.

    3. Plant herbs like holy basil, rue, tansy or woodworm near your doorways. These herbs emit a fragrance that flies hate the most.

    4. For quick relief, use Camphor or Citronella smoke. Citronella and Camphor both are very good at repelling flies. In general flies hate smoke, but when the smoke is from a citronella candle or a piece of camphor then it becomes doubly effective against them.

    5. Use pheromone based disposable fly traps. These fly traps have a very good fly attractant (sex hormone) that flies can't resist. As soon they get inside the trap they get stuck and can't come out. The downside of this trap is such traps, take at least 1 day to get activated.

    6. Using Dish Soap Spray: Most dish soaps contain borax in tiny quantities and we know that borax is something that flies hate. To make your own homemade fly killer spray take a spray bottle. And add 7 – 10 drops of dish soap; add 2 cups of warm water. Close the lid of spray bottle, shake the solution and spray this in the most infested areas. You will be shocked to see the results.

    These were the tips that we used, but there are many such tips listed here: http://www.getridoffliesguide.com/

    Hope this helps.  :)

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,143

    Good tips  image ... but I think the flies you're talking about are 'flies' which fly around our homes ......... the blackflies which are the subject of this thread are a type of aphid on plants.  


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • wendywooelliswendywooellis Posts: 1
    I have a small cherry (morello) planted last June. We had blossom, leaves and small fruit appeared. Then black fly arrived. The fruit is now becoming distorted, going black and some haven’t grown but dropped off. I have sprayed it with soapy water twice and hosed it with the jet. They are still there are they the reason my fruit is suffering. Any advice please. 
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