Hi York Rose, I wouldn't doubt that this is really a fly, it certainly looks more like a fly. The pictures of sweat bees on websites look a little different, as well. Insects identical to those in the picture have stung or bitten me many times over the years. When I was a child my older brother called them sweat bees. So that's how I've always known them. Not only do flowers and human sweat attract them, so does the identifying odor used in natural gas and propane. We have millions of them around here. They like dry heat, so they come out at midday to feed on flower nectar, just when someone working in the yard would tend to perspire heavily. Maybe they bite, but it feels like a bee sting and can leave a welt. El Grillo is Spanish for The Cricket. DW chose it as an alias for me from the title of a 16th century Spanish madrigal that was popular years ago in the classical genre. Gary

Casanova! I can't really tell much from that image, but I suspect your azalea has some LICHEN (pronounced ly'-kin). For some reasons, lichens are really attracted to azaleas. Lichens are harmless to your plant, but typically an indication that something is wrong. They won't thrive on truly healthy azalea. Also, azaleas might not be unhealthy...just past their prime. Is this what you have? See attached. Here is a link that might be useful:

Hello grrl, ( That is, I suppose you're female, and not angry ) The official name of your variegated Jade is: 'Crassula obliqua variegata'. Crassula is the name of the genus, obliqua tells you the leaves are pointed and not rounded, variegata ... you can guess that for yourself. Be somewhat carefull in its treatment. The white leaves tend to burn in too much sunlight. If you want younger plants: take leaves with green in them, White leaves cannot assimilate ( use the sunlight for their growing process )and don't grow roots. (As with all jades, just lay such a leaf upon almost dry pottingground and wait. Variegation will not always be present in this clone. This could be the case in your second picture: then it will be just: 'crassula obliqua' ... :) As it has less green in its leafs this plant tends to bend to the light, also it doesn't branch as much as the regular jade. So if you're growing this plant inside: give it a regular turning, is my advice. When branches become long this plant tends to become 'floppy', and they break more easily compared with the branches of the regular jade. If you want to grow it more compact: cut the tops off regularly. This also is true for the not-variegated form. - The lighter colour of your second pic. could also be caused by lack of N (nitrogen) in its feeding. - heat: the plant originally comes from South Africa: it can stand those temperatures for sure. - Watering: I concur with paracelsus Well, anyway, I wish you much succes - and enjoyment - with these plants, and many envious looks from other beholders ;) Jaap ( Greetings from the Hague, Holland )

Thank you all very much. It is decided then, the feeder stays! I looked up pictures of both the downey and hairy and agree it looks like a hairy woodpecker more. Getting a decent photo of a bird for identification is considerably more difficult than trees. Even my wife's 10mp point and click leaves a little to be desired. One of my neighbor's Bradford Pears has been attacked by some woodpecker. It is the only tree in either of our yards I have seen with damage and being a tree forum regular I have grown to dislike Bradfords anyway lol.