Could this not be an issue of natural balance, or in your case an imbalance that is occurring? It is a bad thing that you have to go through all the trouble of hand pollinating for such common, usually successful vegetables. There is something else going on IMHO. My questions would be: Where are all the pollinating insects such as honey bees? and: Why do you have so many hover flies? It seems to me that answering either of those questions could be more critical to a long term solution than the question of whether those critters are eating all the pollen or not. I find it to be incredulous that the hover flies are eating every last pollen spore that is being produced. Also, honey bees and other beneficial insects collect and/or consume pollen so I do not see how any of these insects are any different. Pollen-gathering insects and pollen-eating insects do not intentionally pollinate flowers. Pollen is unintentionally carried from flower to flower because as the insects land on flowers to consume or gather pollen, some invariably sticks to their body parts and is thus transferred to another flower and pollinates that flower. I recommend researching further and I sincerely hope you find a solution. I am not against pesticides per se but I cannot see how using an insecticide would benefit in any way because it will kill beneficial insects right along with what you may consider to be the pests. How can having no insects be any better than having an "infestation" of hoverflies? My problem is not hover flies but a lack of honey bees. It is becoming so serious that I am considering setting up some bee hives. At this point I welcome any insect that is attracted to my vegetable flowers because I feel I need every one of 'em. Final questions: What creature preys on hover flies? Any way to attract more of them to your garden? Good Luck, -Tom

Jim, if you ever go to Bing--we do, just to see the daily picture--try to go, today. Today's picture is a squeaking silk moth--(Rhodinia Fugax) and he's really cute! I've learned more about 'bugs' since you've been posting your garden memories than I ever thought I'd want to know--but it's all interesting!

I haven't seen any aggressive Hover Flies, but am replying to bump this message down.

HabBob, I don't know exactly what our bugs are, but I've got them narrowed down to Leaf Hoppers. I've only seen one at a time, and I haven't seen it do anything other than sit there. We do have many "guard" bugs floating around, hover flies, wasps, spiders, robber flies, etc... so I think nature has reached some type of balance up here, and is keeping the bad bugs to a minimum. We also have the benefit of living within 200 ft of a marsh, which would be insanely buggy if it weren't for all the birds that hang around and eat like kings. We do keep a small amount of seed in a feeder on the window to keep them close. Heh, we even have a natural perimeter of antlions around the house. So, I guess my point is nature is taking care of business for us right now, so, no, I have not seen the activity you have. We're also on opposite corners of the lower 48, so there's gonna be a difference in coloration, behavior, and available predators. I'm in a very rural area up here, lots of nature. If you live in a more suburban/urban area, you might not have a whole lot of bugs to call on to help out. One thing I've been reading is to allow a part of yard/land/lawn to go wild and bring in the good bugs and bug eaters to your property. That might not help you this year, but might be useful in the future? On a side note: I got another ID on #3, "Yes, plant bug, family Miridae, but I think it is probably a species of Necro...Nicro...Narcoleptic (no, wait, that describes me sometimes)...Ah-ha! Neurocolpus!" - E.E. I'm gonna have to do more research and maybe I'll post my leaf hopper to bugguide or feidler's bug site to get a real ID. Both sites are fantastic. - Mark